REAL HAPPINESS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Real and lasting happiness comes when there is freedom from 
all attachments,including the attachment to the idea of  "I".  
Helping others gives happiness. But note that the "I" is also 
others. If you help this "I", it can also give you happiness.

The "I" is as separate from you as your room-mate sitting beside 
you. In a room of two people, there are, in fact, 3.  The pure 
awareness, your "I" and your friend sitting beside you. It is 
this pure awareness which is aware of the "I" and the world.  
What is being perceived is being perceived by the pure awareness.

Learning compassion begins with "I".  We cannot hate ourselves and 
yet be compassionate towards another, just as we cannot have a 
glass of water which is partly clouded and partly clear.