For
eons, we souls have been on a happiness quest. It's because yearning
for happiness is intrinsic to the nature of the soul. It springs from
the fact that we are tiny parts of God, who is an ocean of bliss. The
Vedic scriptures repeatedly describe God as an ocean of unlimited divine
bliss; for example, Taittirīya Upaniṣhad states:
If
we have been on this eternal quest, and everything we do is in search
of that bliss, how come no extent of achievement or attainment satiates
us entirely? Why is that no matter what happiness we receive, when we
discern a higher state of happiness, the feeling of unfulfillment and
discontentment lingers?
Although
the ultimate motive behind our every action is the search for
happiness, since each one of our actions differ in our constituent
factors, the kind of happiness we derive out of our work is also
different.
The
Vedas refer to happiness in the mode of goodness as śhreya, which
is unpleasant in the present but ultimately beneficial. In contrast to
this is preya, which is pleasant in the beginning but ultimately
harmful. Regarding śhreya and preya, the Kaṭhopaniṣhad
states:
अन्यच्छ्रेयोऽन्यदुतैव प्रेयस्ते उभे नानार्थे पुरुषंसिनीतः |
तयोः श्रेय आददानस्य साधु भवति हीयतेऽर्थाद्य उ प्रेयो वृणीते ||
श्रेयश्च प्रेयश्च मनुष्यमेतस्तौ सम्परीत्य विविनक्ति धीरः |
श्रेयो हि धीरोऽभि प्रेयसो वृणीते प्रेयो मन्दो योगक्षेमाद्वृणीते ||
anyachchhreyo 'nyadutaiva preyaste ubhe nānārthe puruṣhaṁ sinītaḥ
tayoḥ śhreya ādadānasya sādhu bhavati hīyate 'rthādya u preyo vṛiṇīte
śhreyaśhcha preyaśhcha manuṣhyametastau samparītya vivinakti dhīraḥ
śhreyo hi dhīro 'bhi preyaso vṛiṇīte preyo mando yogakṣhemād vṛinīte
(1.2.1-2)
"There
are two paths-one is the 'beneficial' and the other is the 'pleasant'.
These two lead humans to very different ends. The pleasant is enjoyable
in the beginning, but it ends in pain. The ignorant are snared to the
pleasant and perish. But the wise are not deceived by its attractions,
choose the beneficial, and finally attain happiness."
Now,
the question of paramount importance is how do we position ourselves on
this path of lasting, true happiness? "The art of happiness is
accessible to one and all," assures H. H. Swami Mukundananda ji.
Therefore, it is up to us how soon we embark on the journey to
happiness. To develop this art and to spread happiness around you,
watch H. H. Swamiji's video below:
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| Happiness Challenge that will Change your Life | New Year 2019 Challenge |
