
09 May You have two choices. Do you want to be happy or unhappy? (OSHO)
It is said about a Sufi mystic, Bayazid, that he was a tremendously happy man, almost ecstatic. Nobody had ever seen him unhappy, nobody had ever seen him sad, nobody had ever seen him doing anything like grumbling, like complaining. Whatsoever was — and he was happy. It was not always good, it was not always right for others. Sometimes there was no food, but he was happy. Sometimes for days he would live without food, but he was happy. Sometimes there were no clothes, but he was happy. Sometimes he had to sleep under the sky, but he was happy. His happiness remained undisturbed. It was unconditional.
He was asked again and again, but he would laugh and never say. When he was dying somebody asked, ‘Bayazid, now give us your key, your secret. You will be leaving soon. What was your secret?’
He said, ‘There is nothing like a secret. It was a simple thing. Every morning when I open my eyes, God gives me two alternatives. He says, “Bayazid, do you want to be happy or unhappy?” I say, “But God, I want to be happy.” And I choose to be happy and I remain happy. It is a simple choice, there is no secret.’
You try it. Every morning when you get up, the first thing, decide. If you decide to be unhappy, nothing is wrong in it. It is your decision. But then stick to it: remain unhappy whatsoever happens. Even if you win a lottery, don’t be worried — remain unhappy. Even if you are chosen as the prime minister or the president, remain unhappy, stick to your choice. And then you will see — you can remain unhappy if you choose. The same is true about happiness also. If you choose, you can remain happy.
The day you decide that it is your decision to be happy or unhappy, you have taken your life into your hands — you have become a master. Now you will never say that somebody else is making you unhappy. That is a declaration of slavery.
The Discipline of Transcendence
Osho