Joy is an overflowing, an explosion. Something enters a person's life for which he could never be prepared and his previously tidy self erupts in song, dance and joy.

Approach the Divine with a calculated mind and there is no window for joy. Embrace the infinite beyond mind and let joy surprise you.

There are many kinds of barriers: Those from within and those from without. Barriers between people. Barriers that prevent you from doing good things. Barriers of your own mind and your own hesitations. There are the barriers that exist simply because you are a limited being.

Joy breaks through all barriers.

People are afraid of joy. They are afraid they'll get out of hand and lose control.

These people haven't experienced real joy — the joy that comes from doing something G‑dly and beautiful with all your heart. The fact is, there is nothing that will lift you higher. Where there is that joy, the Divine Presence can enter. Where there is that joy, there are no pits to fall into, and all obstacles evaporate into thin air.

The beginning of all paths and the foundation of all ascents is to open yourself to receive from Above.

And how do you receive from Above? By being empty — because a full vessel cannot receive, while an empty vessel has a hollow to be filled.

That is why we must run from depression; because a depressed person is so filled with his own self-pity, there is no room left to receive anything, no opening for life to enter.

But a humble, open spirit is vibrant with joy.

True happiness is the highest form of self-sacrifice. There, in that state, there is no sense of self —not even awareness that you are happy. True happiness is somewhere beyond "knowing". Beyond self.

All the more so when you bring joy to others.