(5 of 5) The Beautitudes: My Beginning - Commencement Speech in IPMI 2001 "Blessed are the meek .. "

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This is the fifth and final article in my series on the Beatitudes.

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Happiness had always been a mystery to me. It felt like something just out of reach, something tied to the next achievement, the next possession, the next milestone. If only I had this, if only I accomplished that—then, maybe, I would be happy. The pattern was predictable: every time a goal was reached, a new one took its place. Satisfaction was fleeting, and happiness remained elusive.

In hindsight, this was how I had understood happiness when I had the honor of delivering a commencement speech as the representative of my graduating class—IPMI Full-Time February 2000 (IPMI Institute). The first topic that came to mind was happiness. ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????? ??????????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????????????, ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ????????? These were questions I had pondered for years, and I knew I wanted to explore them in my speech. The process of writing that speech became an enlightenment of its own, and my thoughts on happiness have continued to evolve ever since.

One book that came to mind right away was Robert H. Schuller’s The Be (Happy) Attitudes: 8 Positive Attitudes That Can Transform Your Life. I had first come across it during a work assignment in Mumbai in 1997, when Schlumbergerstationed me there for seismic services in Geco Sapphire for ONGC. One of my favorite pastimes in India was visiting bookstores, where books were not only abundant but also incredibly affordable. I had bought a handful of titles that day, including Schuller’s book, for Rs 55—a small price for something that would later leave a lasting impact on me.

Though I had read the book back then, it was only in 2001, as I prepared my speech, that I revisited it with a new perspective. Schuller’s reflections on happiness, rooted in the Beatitudes, resonated deeply with the realizations I had come to over the years. His insights helped me frame what I wanted to share with my peers as we stood at the threshold of our next journey.

And so, my speech took shape. What follows is the original speech as I gave it that day, March 15, 2001.        

"Happiness! Elusive, isn’t it?

How often have you thought:

If only I had a Serial 7 BMW… then I would be satisfied

If only I could find someone truly to love me… then I’d be happy!

If only I bought Phillip Morris (added: shares) a year ago, ..? then I’d be content!

If only I had an MBA degree…

If only I had studied medicine …

If only I studied in Harvard …

If only I had married Sophia Latjuba (added: jokingly) …

If only …

If only.."

Then I continued

The news I have for you today is:

All the if only’s in the world – even if they all came true- still could not guarantee your happiness

As we all have discovered at one time or another, cars, houses, jewelry, sex, and other material gains don’t bring happiness for long. After the immediate rush of joy at receiving something, we have longed for, we are hit with the unique problems that every gain brings.

I will never forget a young man who longed for a New Eyes Mercedes. He dreamed about it. He imagined himself behind the wheel. He could smell the soft, supple leather. He could feel the power of the engine as it hugged the road. Then it happened. He got the promotion he wanted, and with the promotion came a good-sized raise. At last he knew he could fulfill his fantasy.

Shining black, the Ferrari gleamed and glistened as he drove it away from the showroom floor. His dream had come true. He was ecstatic! The car was magnificent to drive, and the young man loved all the attention he received from envious young men and lovely ladies.? But the payments were steep. The girls that the car attracted expected him to take them to expensive restaurant. They expected expensive gifts. And parking attendant expected fat tips. The it came time to have the Ferrari serviced. He had no idea than a mere lube job would cost so much. He managed to pay, although the high charge left him in the hole financially. But it was worth it! He had a Ferrari- his dream car!? The young man enjoyed washing and waxing the sun glint of the mirrored body. But after a few months he noticed little nicks in the paint and scratches on the door. He began to get tired of the attention and the demands that the car and its new friends made on him. In fact, he was beginning to wonder who the girls were going out with- him or his car!?

Future shock overtook and shook him. Now he was haunted by the question:” Will I ever be happy? Will I ever be satisfied?

How then do you find happiness? Not in riches, recognition, relationships, or drugs, but in the readjusted mental attitudes. The good news is that bad news can turn into good news if you readjust your attitude toward the tough times.

One thing I would like to share with you:

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed literally means happy. So, whether you are winning or losing, succeeding, or failing, enthusiastic or depressed, happy or suffering, you can be happy if you will discover the right positive attitudes.

One hint for today is

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Meek1 what does it mean? The answer lies in the word itself:

M – mighty

E – Emotionally Stable

E – Educable

K – Kind

1. Blessed is the mighty. Think of it. What is real strength. What is real might. Who is the stronger – the young man who gives to his rage and becomes physically or verbally abusive? Or the young man who remains calm, assured of his inner strength.? Who are the mighty? The powerful are mighty when they have learned to restrain their power. They know that real might lies in control and discipline, lest they rip out young plants along with weeds and tear out the tender shoots of human kindness and gentleness. They are those who remain gentle while they build strength, who are merciful while they are mighty. Blessed are they, for they shall not merely win a war, they shall win the hearts of their enemy. The weak are also mighty when they turn their problem into projects, their sorrows into servants, their difficulties into dividends, their obstacles into opportunities, their tragedies into triumphs, their stumbling blocks into steppingstones. They look upon an interruption as an interesting interlude. They harvest fruit from frustration. They convert enemies into friends. They look upon adversities as adventures.
2. Blessed is the Emotionally Stable. They have their ups and downs, but they don’t allow their down times to distract them from their goals. They don’t quit when they hit their first snag, their first setback. They hang in there for the entire count, rather than throw in the towel after a low blow. Blessed are the hones, hardworking folks. They are more interested in substance than in style. They are more popularity in rating. They are more dedicated to making solid achievements than to running after swift but synthetic happiness. The emotionally stable stick to their objectives. They keep their eyes focused on their goals. And when they meet with problems, they patiently overcome those problems and work through their difficulties.
3. Blessed is the educable. The educable people those who are teachable don’t suffer from a know-it-all attitude. They allow room in their life for growth. They listen. They’re not defensive. They’re not on ego trip. Rather they are on a success trip. If their way isn’t the best, they’ll switch.? Blessed are those who know what it is that they do not know, and who are eager to listen to others who are older, wiser, more experienced. Blessed indeed are they who, in true meekness, remember that a little learning is a dangerous thing. Blessed are those who never forget that they are never too old to learn. They shall inherit great wisdom and with it success. Real humility is the awareness that there are others who can help you. Real humility is also the capacity to say, “I was wrong, you were right.”
4. Blessed are the kind. Without kindness the mighty are ruthless. Without kindness, the emotionally stable are emotionally cold and hard. Without kindness the educable become arrogant. They are the sensitive spirits. A loving is he who offers reassurance to another hostility, affection to another loneliness, friendship to another’s hurt, an apology to all. Bless are such sensitive souls, for they shall inherit the devotion and esteem of good people on this earth.

REFERENCES

1 Schuller, R. H. (1986). The be (happy) attitudes: 8 positive attitudes that can transform your life. Bantam Books.