How do achieve zen and positive attitude....?

Question

Is it possible to be happy and positive 100% of the time? I've been working on it. But I just don't feel this world sets a good stage for achieving that state of being. I often find I am happy, but then I remember that there are starving people, lonely people, suffering, mistreated animals, loved ones who will eventually pass away, etc., etc., and I feel so guilty for feeling content with myself and surroundings. I know it isn't healthy, but it's so unfair when some have fortune and others have gloom. Especially those that cannot help themselves like children and animals. I don't mean to be so melancholy, but these are the things that go through my head a LOT. I've been told "Don't worry about the things you can't change"...but I feel guilty if I don't at least worry and feel deep empathy...I wish I were just numb to all the negative things in this world. How can one shut all of that out and just focus on being peaceful and not feel guilt?

Answer 1

Hmm..  I have dealt with a similar problem in the past.  I was deeply empathetic and it ended up hurting my spirits.. Then, I went to the other extreme and reached numbness.  

I have learned that empathy needs to be balanced out with knowing/accepting that the world has it's problems.  The world's problems are mainly caused by the human beings that inhabit the Earth...  and the only way to help that is to do something about it as well as educate others.  I guess you could take advice from what people have told you [Don't worry about the things you can't change] and try to find a way to change those things..  I guess, however little you do.. it's better than doing nothing.  

Also, I'm no expert, but I think that it is not possible to be "happy" 100% of the time.  What I have learned through my spiritual education is that because we are human we WILL constantly feel many different emotions and to achieve what you describe as "zen"..  You need to learn to observe those feelings instead of being absorbed by them.  It's like you watch them and acknowledge them, but let it flow passed you like water as you go on on your way. :)  

Well, I don't know if that was any help, but sure hope it was :P  

hmm.. I wasn't sure what "zen" meant in the non-westernized form so I looked it up ....this is what I found to be most related to what we are discussing....

Zen (Japanese: ) from Dhyana (Sanskrit) via Chán (Chinese: ) and Sŏn (Korean: ) is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism notable for its emphasis on mindful acceptance of the present moment, spontaneous action, and letting go of self-conscious, judgmental thinking

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen

Answer 2

you must think to yourself what do i want to ahive in life ?

if you know then you can never be happy because you cannot improve over that level of asperation .

and for the other part of the question

no matter how hard you try you cannot make everything perfect in the world otherwise what would we judge good/evil on   poor/rich

without contrast and debate the world would not go around there has to be bad things happening for there to be good things .

sometimes whaen you do nothing at all is when ypur helpng the most .

and live your life to the fullest and make sure you have no regrets because the desision you made was the one you realy wanted all the time.