Be sure of the problem before trying to solve it

Let me tell you a short story. One fine day, a bus driver went to the bus garage, started his bus, and drove off along the route. As usual a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well. At the next stop, however, a big hulk of a guy got on. Six feet eight, built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the driver and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back.

The driver was five feet three, thin, and basically meek? Naturally, he didn't argue with Big John, but he wasn't happy about it. The next day the same thing happened - Big John got on again, made a show of refusing to pay, and sat down. And the next day, and the next.

This grated on the bus driver, who started losing sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him. Finally he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building courses, karate, judo, and all that good stuff. By the end of the summer, he had become quite strong; what's more, he felt really good about himself.

So on the next Monday, when Big John once again got on the bus and said, "Big John doesn't pay!"

The driver stood up, glared back at the passenger, and screamed, "And why not?"

With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, "Big John has a bus pass."

So, my friend, be sure there is a problem in the first place before working hard to solve one. This is the key to peace and happiness. Most of the time your problems are just creations of conditioned mind which thinks a lot. Your assumptions based on your past experience and conditioning of your mind, make up most of your worries. With the help of pure and strong intellect, you can keep a close watch on your mind and its thoughts. By doing so, most of your worries along with your problems will evaporate easily. So, the seeker of inner happiness should resort to strengthen the intellect with the help of prayer, contemplation, listening to the spiritual words from saints and meditation. Pure, analytical, worriless, fearless and peaceful  mind can lead you to inner happiness.