A Man Who Was Looking for Happiness. 7 Greatest Secrets of Happiness. Russian bestseller from a simple guy. This book was written for a 12-year-old son, but it so happened that the experience accumulated over the years, which is set out in the book, became interesting to the business community and parents to educate children in those qualities that will allow them to live to the fullest and get everything they want from life! My 1, 2, 3 and let's go! Well, guys, I finally have a paper copy of the book "THE SEVEN GREATEST SECRETS OF HAPPINESS - A STORY THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR WORLD" in my hands
For you, the first part of the book is absolutely free!
About the book
What if tomorrow you could change in an incredible way any area of your life? For example, if you were in a better physical condition? Or if you became wealthier? Or more active? Or if you devoted more tine to your spouse and children? Or if you found new positive friends? What would be different? Would you be happier? Or healthier? Or more successful? Would it boost your career?
What if there is a simple but non-obvious secret that would definitely help you improve any area of your life faster than you can even imagine?
7 Greatest Secrets of Happiness is a book about incredible adventures of an ordinary young man named Asher on his way to happiness. He meets the greatest merchants, magi, monks, and other remarkable men. He has to overcome many difficulties and change himself in all areas of his life. In the end, Asher will answer mysteriously the most important question of his life.
There can be no compromises in our life, for it can't start over or repeat. It simply goes on. Our time is right at the moment. So start changing now.
The book heals psychological pain and provides the opportunity to the personal advancement. It answers the following questions:
Do you take from life the very best it can give…
Or you accept the despair?
Do you pay enough attention to all aspects of your life…
Or you compromise painfully?
Do you really understand yourself and your desires…
Or you follow somebody else's thinking about success?
Also, you will get the Book of Happiness workbook as a bonus. This is a unique planning system that will help you implement your visualisation of the perfect life.
You will create your life plan, for a goal without a plan is only a dream. You will learn to understand clearly your aspirations and will get the strategy of reaching whatever you dream about.
After you read the book, you will love every single day of your life. And as the years went by, you will take stock of it and think, "Oh Lord, that is the happiness!"
Book One
Asher's Way
Part I.
A Man Who Was Looking for Happiness
Chapter 1. Farewell to Sage Abba and Secrets of His Success
Like a wind raising dry leaves, Asher was running along narrow streets of Nazareth. Suddenly he realised what should he do to his life and how. Today he decided to retire from his job, well-paid and respected but not being a joy to him. Moreover, he decided to leave his home and friends to look for the happiness that he dreamed about for the whole of his life! Asher wanted to share his glimpse with a sage named Abba who lived close to the workshop of Adam, the carpenter. On his way, he dropped upon his friend Joshua, Adam's son. They had spent their childhood together: played, learned and helped in the homes — swept floors, brought water from the well, looked after domestic animals. From the age of three, their fathers taught theis sons the scripture; as their children grew up, they'd also taught them their crafts. After learning his father's profession, Asher became a scrivener while Joshua started to work as a carpenter, as well as Adam. Two friends still spent their spare time walking together, playing chess and Chinese checkers. They drew checked playing boards right on the sand. Joshua always won, and Asher often was miffed on the friend. Anyway, he loved Joshua for his agile mind and his tremendous love to all people around him.
"What's the hurry, Asher?" asked Joshua wiping the sweat from his forehead: he was finishing a plough for a local landowner.
"Joshua, I'm hurrying to Abba, the sage", Asher replied enthusiastically. "It seems like I found what from should my way to happiness start. But I'm in doubt and I need the sage's advice to figure it out".
"Asher, but you have carried on your father's work and now you are the scrivener, you are keeping records in our ward and restoring the Holy Scriptures. Everything should be alright with you, so what are you dissatisfied with?"
"I want to take journeys and to live the entertaining life instead of sitting at the desk all the time".
"Asher, I'm happy for you. Your eyes aglow! I've never seen you looking like that… I believed, you are the unhappiest man in Nazareth but now you are full of enthusiasm and energy. Go in God's name! I will always be with you, my friend!"
"Always glad of good wishes, dear friend! You will always be deep in my soul for better or worse, in delight or frustration… Your preaching gave me the spiritual support that I've needed so much; finally, that is why I could retire from my abhorred scrivener job. I'd like to depart with Maruf's caravan and go for Kashmir city, the great commercial hub, for new knowledge and to look for my happiness!"
Asher held Joshuae tightly to him. He couldn't keep himself from crying. A scanty tear poured down Asher's stubbled cheek like a river that had divided his life into parts before and after, and he felt it with his entire heart.
"Asher", Joshua said firmly and confidently, "the only impossible journey is that has never started… The journey begins from a one easy step. Once you've got a goal, go for it right now, otherwise it will remain a dream forever. No one else but you can change your life! I'm so glad about you! Only a few people are ready for such hardship even for their happiness, and as this path has been given you by God, follow it. If you need to see me and talk, just close your eyes, and I'll be around".
Asher wiped dried-out tears with his cloak, said farewell to Joshua and went to the sage Abba's house.
The door was open. Abba was sitting on the floor in lotus position, with his eyes shut. Asher felt frightened and thought that his teacher might be gone.
"Abba", Asher exclaimed, "what's the matter with you?"
The old sage coughed and replied with a wry smile:
"Oh, Asher, you're back! Have you decided to follow my advice and strive to learn the world and look for your happiness?"
"Yes, teacher! What I realised is if I miss it now, I will regret it to the end of my life, unable to change a thing".
"Well said, son!" the old sage coughed again and grinned through pain. "I'm glad that hours of teaching you were not in vain. Do you have any other questions to me? Hurry up, for my time is almost over, and still there is a lot of things I'd like to tell you about"…
"Abba, could you please tell me about Kashmir? About caravans and Maruf, the greatest merchant! I'd like to join him, work for him, and reach Kashmir. Also, you've mentioned the road map and rolls of happiness that you wanted to give me", Asher started jabbering heatedly. "I know something about Kashmir city and I'd like to start my way of knowledge there. Please, tell me about it!"
"Kashmir..”, Abba grew thoughtful, drawing his big bushy eyebrows together. "It is a wonderful fertile valley with the specific mild climate, full of the clearest spring water flowing down from surrounding mountains. Kashmir originates from Srinagar, an ancient merchant city laid among peaks of Himalaya… The history of this city is thorny and changeful; however, as before, it still remains a major intersection of caravan routes between the Far and Middle East, the Central and South Asia…"
Abba took a deep breath and carried on.
"The merchant history of Kashmir, as well as the religious one, lasts over many centuries. This land is famous with its hand-made carpets of silk and wool and pashminas, shawls made of cashmere, which is a thin but warm fabric produced from mohair of Kashmir mountain goats living nearby Lagakh village. Also, in local markets you will admire rare walnut articles and unbelievably beautiful gem jewelry. They like sapphires best there".
"Abba, is it true that there are lamas living in Himalaya, who know ways to enlightenment?" Asher asked even more enthusiastically.
"Yes, Asher, you are right", Abba answered with a smile, "in Sanskrit, lama means a tutor who reached the spiritual perfection, a teacher, or a guru. Lamas are key persons in lives of those who adopted the way of Buddhism. For religious people, Lamas are like second fathers who should be honoured and obeyed, for they help draw a meaning from the existence".
Abba took another breath, even deeper and heavier than before.
"In Tibet, the Lama is a minister who had passed specific rites and got some spiritual experience. In some Buddhist cults, they call Lamas priests who officiate at rituals for ordinary people. And in Tibet Buddhist monasteries, Lamas are monks who devoted their lives to learn the teaching".
"Oh, teacher, the enlightenment is what I'd like to reach! I'm almost certain, I'll be happy after that!" Asher exclaimed.
"Well, you know, it's true if you think so", Abba replied quietly but confidently. "I believe in you, son, but bear in mind, the journey won't be easy. Although you'll face a lot of difficulties, don't be afraid of them and don't deviate from your path. It's going to be a long journey, it will end as soon as you realise that you found your absolute happiness…" the old man coughed but carried on, "at the end of your path you should have to pass seven scrolls to the world. I'll give you them…"
"Abba, what's the matter with you? Are you unwell? What scrolls are you talking about?"
"Oh, Asher, you're young and only just are taking your path of cognition. As for me, I'm old, and it seems like my time is over…"
The old man turned pale, his face was flushed like in chills. Beads of sweat poured from his wrinkled forehead to the tip of his nose and dropped down to the sand, dissappearing there instantly, so did the last seconds of his life.
"Take the rolls from the chest under the table", the old man whispered on his last breath. "Also, there is a road map. Follow it, and you'll get happy… You won't see me anymore: I had fulfilled my mission and can leave this world with my heart at rest, for I found a man who will open the secret of happiness to the people…"
Asher left the old man's house and sauntered home. On his way, he started to unroll the scrolls impatiently and even greedily. The first one was blank, so he unrolled hurriedly the second one, only to find nothing there, too. All the seven scrolls were blank. Only locations, which Asher had to visit on his hard way, were marked on the road map.
"What should I do?" Asher wondered. "Perhaps Abba had mistaken the scrolls ana gave me the wrong ones?"
Asher rushed back to his teacher's house. Burst in, he found Abba's lifeless body on the floor…
"Oh, Lord", cried Asher, "What should I do now, my teacher? Why didn't you give me the answers I'd expected from you?"
Alas, he could change nothing… Asher informed Abba's relatives about his death and went home to prepare for the journey to his happiness. In his hand he held a message. "Dear Asher, my beloved disciple!" he read there. "You were really the unhappiest of my disciples, which made you different. You always wanted to change a lot inside and around you. As you read my words today, you will start a new, happy life. I know your disappointment after you saw the blank scrolls but this is your exact mission, to create the seven sacred scrolls that will help make happy millions of people who need it!
Dear Asher! Now I'll tell you the Seven Secrets of Success. I couldn't describe them in my life because you were not ready for them. And now it's right about time. Begin each your day whispering or talking of yourself these simple guidelines. They'll help you on your hard path to happiness:
1. I will see each new day with love in my heart, and it will make me successful, lucky and glad!
2. I'll be persistent reaching my success; whatever it takes, I will not deviate from my path.
3. I've been created by God to fulfil my destiny, and today I'll approach my goal at least for a foot.
4. I will live this day as it was the last one in my life.
5. Today I will learn to control myself and will rule my emotions. I will be persistent in getting knowledge and will learn something new. Today I will increase my value.
6. I will enter this day with my head high and chest lifted up. I will exude confidence, and people whom I need will get around. I'll become the happiest man from Nazareth.
7. I will never wait, for there will never be the perfectly appropriate time. I will start acting immediately using all means I've got in my hands. Today I will do something good. Each of my actions will move me onward and open new opportunities. I will fill myself with happiness and share it with people around.
With love and trust in my heart, Abba, your teacher".
Chapter 2. Away for a Dream!
Asher woke up by dawn's first light. The only thought was in his head: he should act here and now.
Asher pronounced loudly the old Abba's words: "I've been created by God to fulfil my destiny, and today I'll approach my goal at least for a foot".
Asher remembered Joshua telling about the narrow path: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it".[1] However, talking to Joshua, Asher found out that taking up the cross doesn't mean going into a convent. Taking up the cross is being responsible for one's life and going towards one's aim.
Asher was to leave Nazareth for Damascus in Syria, the most ancient capitol where Maruf, the greatest merchant, lived. As he knew, Maruf's caravan departs to Kashmir from there.
Asher realised that the journey is going to be hard and dangerous. His countrymen were leaving their homes only when it was really necessary. Nevertheless, it only empowered and encouraged him to reach his goal.
Asher took a last look at his home street and strode towards his destiny. The sun brightly lighted up the road, as if it was a sign that he is on the right track. Suddenly a woman's voice called him at a turn in the road:
"Hey, Asher!"
It was Dalia, a young girl who lived next door to Asher. Asher liked to chat with her and dreamed secretly to marry her. However, he always drove these thoughts away because he felt that another fate out of Nazareth might have been in store for him. Besides, as he was the unhappiest man in the world, what could he offer her? Let her meet the one who would make her life decent…
Meanwhile, Dalia overtook him.
"Hello, Asher. Where are you going so early, to work?"
"No, Dalia. I resigned from my scrivener's position and leave to seek my happiness. I know, I feel, it is waiting for me somewhere else".
"But… When will you be back?" The girl's voice became very sad, and a shadow crossed her face.
"I won't be back, Dalia. From now, Nazareth is my past. Good bye, and may God bless you!"
Asher quickened his pace. He didn't see tears in Dalia's eyes. He walked trying not to think about what he has left behind in Nazareth. He believed that new discoveries and the new life lay ahead.
***
The time flew by on the road. Being possessed by his dream, Asher permanently scrolled through his head various variants of his future adventures. He knew very clearly that he will overcome all circumstances brought by his fate and unlock the greatest secret of happiness.
Finally, Asher was standing in front of the merchant Maruf's palace. The day was only beginning, and the dawn threw a mild light on the stately building.
"Good morning", Asher addressed the palace guards. "Lead me to Maruf, please".
"Hah, whom else shoul we lead you to?" one of the guards grinned.
"Tell Maruf that Abba, the sage from Nazareth, sent me".
Once Abba's name was pronounced, one of the guards rushed to announce the visitor. The huge gate opened letting Asher in, and he entered the wonderful Maruf's palace where everything was gold-plated and covered with carpets of cashmere. Maruf was sitting in an armchair gazing at the visitor with interest and in perplexity.
"Who are you and how have you found me? And how do you know about the sage Abba?"
"Me name is Asher, I was Abba's disciple. The sage gave me the road map, and your palace is marked in it as the first way point I should pass looking for my happiness".
"Young man, you have intrigued me", Maruf grinned. "As Abba showed you that way, you should follow this plan. For a goal without a plan is only a dream. I believe, you will succeed like I did it once. I'm going to help you. Certainly it won't be for free. What can you do?"
"Recently I worked as a scrivener in a ward, so I read and count quite well. I learned this profession from my father, although I've never liked it. I realised that I don't want to waste my life doing something I'm uncomfortable with. That's why I'm here".
"Asher, you've learned a very important profession, well done. Due to your skills, you will be able to get any information, perceive any kind of truth and pass your knowledge to future generations. Excellent! At the moment, I need a knowledgeable man who would purchase goods in Kashmir and Srinagar and ship them to Damascus by caravans of opportunity.
"Oh, Maruf, I didn't even dare to dream about such a job with so many opportunities that appeared so quickly! I'm available to work".
"Don't hurry, my friend. First you should learn. I'll teach you personally, and it will be my mission that Abba foresaw in your road map. I'll wait for you in my garden at dawn tomorrow. And now go to Akiv, my faithful assistant. He will accommodate you and tell you about the daily routine in my palace".
"Maruf, is this that legendary Akiv?"
"Well, Asher, you are not such a fool as you seem to be!" Maruf blinked and carried on. "Yes, you're right, once Akiv was my shepherd, and now he's a very wise man. That's how it happens in life! Keep patient, my boy, soon you will know everything".
[1] The Holy Bible (Mark 8:34-35)