We cannot try to be happy. In this endeavour, trying is failing. What we can do is investigate why we are unhappy, to see how our dream of happiness depends on some person, situation or circumstance. Dependency is misery. True happiness comes from within. It already is.
Are we human sticky buns, glue-meisters clinging to persons, possessions and relationships? Trouble that way lies. Not that persons, possessions and relationships are inherently troublesome. Not at all. But stickiness? That’s the devil.
No doubt the mind is a powerful tool. So is an electric drill. Tools are for occasional use. We would surely view as deeply weird someone who walked around drilling all the time.
We cannot help anyone. The most we can do is create a condition whereby someone is enabled to help himself.
Right action relieves suffering; wrong action intensifies it.
The only devil is dependency.
Men's Work 