Happiness flows from a love of being alive

Authentic love is based on truth and wisdom

There are a lot of complicated things that are true in the world, and a lot of things that are false. And for every one of these, there is an infinite number of points of view.

So with our limited minds and our limited time alive, we must decide which truths, which lies and which points of view will be allowed access to our precious minds.

Most of our beliefs are pre-formed and fed to us through religious, media and 'education' channels, well before we were old enough to protect ourselves.

Unfortunately, these mass programming channels are not always based on either truth, or a deep and universal love for mankind.

When we are young, we have little choice. We cannot tell truth from falsehood. Or have the wisdom to reflect upon different points of view. We become easily infected with the deceptive simplicity of black and white thinking.

But little by little we begin to see the colors in between. To piece together the puzzle. We learn that we don't need to believe everything we're told. That we can use systems of thought to decipher both what is true and what is wise.

Yet most of us remain faithful to the belief that figures of authority - parents; teachers; historians; the media and most government employees, are appropriate sources for our beliefs and our points of view. Either because we believe they love and care for us, or simply because they have control over the most seductive information technologies - printing, radio, TV. And now, to a lesser degree, the internet.

What they tend to offer is simplicity and certainty. They will have a reason for every point of view presented, together with an unwavering sense of certainty and legitimacy.

Nobody can survive childhood free of mental infection. They are a necessary part of building up our mental immune systems. From santa claus onwards. And it is always easier to let others do our thinking for us, and leave us simply to do the believing.

The most critical decision facing each of us, is deciding what to believe. And thus who will be allowed access to our most precious of possessions - our minds.

When we piece together truth, we discover that the love of life is both rational and wise.

So if you want to know how to truly love life, find out first what is absolutely true from the widest point of view you are able to sustain.