On Dogs and Happiness

I think the trick with dogs, the reason they're so happy is that they're so absolutely unaware of themselves and yet acutely aware of the tiniest little things surrounding them. Impressed by the mundane, that's not worth our while. An empty chip package shining in the distance—some shuffling leaves. 

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It's funny, though, because it seems that the happiest beings on this Earth are either totally unaware of their selves or totally in tune with their authentic Self. Aware of their divine nature. At this other end of the spectrum, humans return to being as delighted by shuffling leaves as a dog.

 

The highest evolution leads to a return to simplicity.

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For the rest of us mortals roaming consciousness somewhere between the blissful ignorance of a dog and the imperturbable enlightenment of a monk, life is sort of a soundtrack composed of intermittent barks and "ohms'.

 

But this is far from being a complaint. It's more of an observation from a dog lover-slash-spiritual seeker. I'll gladly listen to this soundtrack. I'll even sing to it as long as I get to compose it.

 

In the end, that's what awareness means. To observe and embrace the barks and the ohms alike. The shorter or longer periods when we do get a glimpse of what life is about make the whole ride worthwhile.

 

What's the fun in a rollercoaster with no downs?

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Anyway, today, I confused more than three rustling leaves with rodents on my way back home. Maybe the dog thing is rubbing off on me. And that's a good thing.