The True Man
Society has many definitions for happiness, but none of them are genuine. We believe we are happy when we get what we desire, but that happiness quickly fades and a new desire emerges.
Real happiness is a state of consciousness and is not dependent upon external circumstances. That is, possessions are not the cause of happiness. All possessions are subject to loss, decay, and theft; they are impermanent and therefore unreliable.
We have to stop harmful action, to restrain ourselves from any act of negativity. This alone can take many, many years.
Excerpt from Karma is Negotiable, Nikias Annas
The power of generosity is one of the greatest powers in the universe. The power of generosity is unimaginable. Generosity is the very basis of spiritual advancement: it is karma in motion, creating benefit. That is why all the great masters exemplify generosity—the power of sacrifice. In Kabbalah, that is the power of the sephirah Chokmah: love as sacrifice, the power of giving. It is a generosity of spirit, a generosity of heart.
True generosity is most accurately summarized as thinking of others before yourself. It is the most fundamental basis of real spirituality.
Excerpts from Karma is Negotiable, Nikias Annas
Cause and effect is at work in the physical world according to the laws of physical matter. It is different in the internal worlds. What happens internally — psychologically, spiritually — is more powerful.
The internal worlds are those aspects of nature that we cannot perceive with our physical senses. In other words, we are multidimensional, not just physical.
As Tsong Khapa pointed out, actions produced psychologically (internally) have much greater effects than those produced physically (externally). This is partly because the physical realm is quite low on the scale of matter and energy. Moving up the scale, actions have greater consequences, because they “trickle down” to the lower levels.
Excerpts from Karma is Negotiable, Nikias Annas