Not only is such happiness a creation of the mind but the delight which comes with satisfying a desire is only transient or short-lived. Those who have developed an addiction to eating, drugs, alcohol, computer games, pornography, gambling and so forth know this only too well. Increasing amounts of the addictive material is required to reach the same level of happiness – like a fire which keeps growing and needs more and more fuel. When we have satisfied our desires to the limit and still gain only fleeting happiness – if any at all – then comes the disillusionment, the depression. The myth that the joy we all seek can be gained from possessions and sensual indulgence is finally shattered. So what is one to do?

Perhaps the main requirement for a more lasting happiness and contentment is to know as Emerson reminded us earlier, that all joy comes from inside. There are three short analogies to illustrate this age-old truth. The first is of the Siberian musk deer which spends its life vainly searching for the source of the exquisite scent which wafts into its nostrils, only to realise in its final breath that the aroma was coming all the time from itself, from a gland in its hind-quarters.

The second analogy is of the man standing knee-deep in a clear flowing stream, holding out his cup begging for some water to drink. The third is similar. It tells of a man sitting in the doorway of a thatched hut pleading with passers-by for some money, all the while oblivious to the vast treasure buried just under the dirt floor.

But why should we take any notice of these analogies, why believe that all joy is within us and comes from us? Because the wise ones who have gone before us say it is so. If we want to find out where to dive for pearls in the ocean we ask the pearl-diver whose basket is always full. That is, we ask the ones who have found and radiate deep abiding peace and joy. Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna, Guru Nanak, Zarathustra – the founders of the great religions of the world – all asserted that the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ lies within each one of us. ‘Seek and ye shall find’, they say, but seek within, not outside. It is natural for us to yearn for delight, like the musk deer, for that is our birthright. A treasure awaits us. Our depression might be telling us that for too long we have been looking in the wrong place.

The question might come of course that, if such an abundance of delight lies waiting within, how is it that when I reflect on this possibility I still feel depressed? A simple example from Nature might reassure us on this: On a cloudy overcast day we cannot see the sun, yet still we believe it to be there hidden from us by the clouds. In my own case in dealing with depression I created an affirmation which I repeated many thousands of times to convince myself that an ever-shining sun was my reality, not the mental clouds obscuring it from me. I’ll share the words with you in case they can be of some help. The affirmation says:

Within me is pure, lasting, unsullied happiness.
Within me is a vast, limitless ocean of nectar divine.
I seek it. I find it. I find it.

I would linger on each word, savouring it, imagining what it represented, until the affirmation became like a talisman which I always carried to remind me of the rich inheritance awaiting me.

There are many wonderful affirmations available today, in books and websites. They do help, if we can find one or two that resonate, which give a glimpse of possibility. The words help prepare for the grace that is surely to come. It’s like placing earthenware pots in an upright position so that, when it does rain, the nectar from the Gods can be collected.

Once we allow ourselves to believe that a limitless fountain of joy lies waiting within, how are we to drink from this priceless source? The recommendation throughout the ages - from seers, mystics and sages of all faiths and none – is to commit ourselves to the upliftment of our brothers and sisters, of suffering humanity. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the Nobel Peace Prize recipient, once said that while half the world lives in material poverty, most of the others have a poverty of the spirit – they have forgotten to care for their fellow human beings, and so they suffer from depression rather than from hunger and thirst.

One has to experience it to know the truth of it: That being of loving service to others, without thought of reward, steadily brings us closer to the spring of joy that lies within the heart. Stories abound of individuals who have banished depression from their lives using this simple formula. Whether it is to smile at every second person we pass on the street, to visit the lonely and the sick, to be actively involved in one of the many volunteer organisations, or engage in ‘random acts of kindness’ like paying the toll for the car behind us or putting money into someone’s expired parking meter, or whatever appeals to us, each one of these have a history of proven success in lifting one’s own spirit and that of countless others. I’ll share just one example with you:

Many years ago I read of a man who fell into a depressed state. He made his first steps towards recovery by exploring the Sunshine Coast beaches in Queensland. After some time he noticed how much plastic rubbish had been washed up and was littering the pristine sands. So he began carrying a large bag with him into which he placed all of the rubbish he came across on his early morning walks. After a few months of doing this he realised that his depression had gone.

His joyful demeanour and selfless loving service was noticed by the local newspapers. When he was interviewed as to why he was doing this he replied, “It makes me happy when I think of how people feel when they come down to a nice clean beach.” He had discovered the source of inner joy which reveals itself to us when we practise unconditional loving.

Just to go over what this section has covered: It is possible that one aspect of our depression is that we have relied too heavily upon finding happiness in the people and objects of this world. This is not to say that we should retreat from the world and live in isolation, or that a life of extreme poverty will bring joy into our lives. It’s like the shoes that we wear: if they are too tight (poverty) we feel only discomfort; if they are too big (over-indulgence) we are also at a disadvantage.

Perhaps our depression is telling us that we need to find a shoe that fits us well, a way of living that puts a ceiling or limit on how much we indulge our desires or depend on others for our happiness. At the same time we can find ways of experiencing and expressing the true lasting joy that is always waiting just inside us all.

Some of what we have introduced in this section is dealt with on the two CDs. We hope that you have found it helpful, and that you begin to discover more and more of your vast limitless ocean of inner delight.