HAPPINESS

It was a bright and breezy morning, and the leaves rustled all over the valley. Trees of different kinds aligned along a quiet and peaceful stream. Under a tall and bent-down bamboo tree, with its golden skin glowing in sunlight, Desire and Contentment sat, contemplated, and tried to figure out the reasons of their existence.

As the sun continued to rise to the center of an azure sky, Desire broke the tranquility of the morning. "What makes you feel contented? he asked. “How come you are already satisfied with your life—with the same mornings, same sun, same sky?"

"Every time you achieve what you desire, I feel contented." Contentment replied.

"But I keep on asking for more the moment I reach my goal, and whenever I succeed, I always aim higher. "

"I am very patient. I can wait."

"You are waiting for nothing, for I will never stop wanting."

"I believe, someday, you would realize what you have already gained. Everyone has their limit, and you will also reach yours."

Desire kept quiet for a while and gazed at their surrounding. Then he stood up and faced the bamboo tree behind them. “I like bamboo,” he said, while feeling its smooth surface. "Hey, Contentment, have you ever felt Happiness?"

"If happiness is finding one’s purpose, then I haven’t.”

"Are we capable of being happy?”

"Listen. The moment that you, Desire, achieve contentment then I would be able to taste Happiness.”

"What do you mean? I tend to long for power when I posses wealth. I want more wealth because I have more power, and more power requires more wealth. It is a never-ending cycle, really."

"Have you heard of the ‘Tree of all Trees?’” Contentment asked.

“ No, I haven’t.”

“In the time of our ancestors, there was a sacred tree called ‘The Tree of All Trees.’ It was a tree that represented all the trees all over the world. All kinds of fruits bloomed on its braches, and wonderful flowers blossomed from its leaves. It possessed all the traits of other trees. One day the tree asked the Creator for the reason why it was granted with such a blessing. The Creator told the tree that it was because the tree had a loving heart—a heart that was more than willing to give and share the glories of the Creator. The Sacred Tree bestowed onto others everything it had: shelter for the cold and weary travelers, woods to make fire, medicine for the sick and wounded, and more. It held down its braches so that passing pilgrims and merchants can easily harvest and feed its produce. It nested birds, insects, and animals of different types. Its beauty was more than enough to attract everyone and everything near it. The tree had it all; everyone near it also had it all.”

“Thank you for the story. I think I now know what you mean. Like the bamboo, I have to continue growing but I also have to keep my head down. I must aim higher but I have to remember that no matter how high I have reached, there is still a part of me that remains attached to the ground.”

“If that is how you want to put it, then be like a bamboo.”

"I have one last question for you my friend. If I, Desire, achieve contentment, then what should I call you?”

“Call me Happiness.”