All the living beings residing in this world always desire their own happiness. Everyone wants their life to be blissful and peaceful. But due to our ignorance, we do not know where true happiness is obtained. We also do not think which is the real door from where happiness enters.
When a being searches for happiness in this world, he runs towards objects and enjoyments. He thinks that the attainment of desired things is the cause of happiness. If he gets what he wants, the mind becomes pleased, and if not, he becomes sad. This is exactly like a small child who cries for a toy, and after getting it, he starts laughing. But as we grow older, our desires also grow, while our understanding remains the same as that of the child.
One desire is not yet fulfilled that another one stands before us. And even if that second one gets fulfilled, the third one is ready. In this way, man remains caught in the cycle of desire and sorrow. In fact, most desires in this world never get fulfilled and then only sorrow remains. Some people, when their desires are not fulfilled, fall into depression and mental suffering.
People do not understand that the source of happiness is not outside objects. True happiness is within us, in our Spiritual Self. The Ātman itself is the ocean of bliss. The Supreme Self resides within us and it is He who gives us peace and bliss. That is the reason that even in this sorrowful world, we experience moments of happiness.
Nowadays most people believe that happiness comes only from wealth, property, honor, and material objects. The one who has prestige in society, the one who has wealth, he alone must be happy. But this belief is completely wrong. Often it is seen that a poor and simple man lives a more joyful life than a rich man. Happiness is not related to external objects but to our mind and Self.
In this matter, yogis are truly the most fortunate. Through Self Knowledge, they realize The Ātman and become established in the Unique Spiritual Bliss. Without obtaining any object, they attain such joy which cannot be obtained even after fulfilling countless worldly desires. Yogis know that real happiness lies not in material objects but in the Self itself.
In this world, the truly wise person is the one in whom the desire for liberation has awakened. Otherwise, no matter how clever, knowledgeable, or intelligent one may be, Maya deceives him. No one can escape the sorrows and troubles of the world. If there is no search for liberation within him, then what is the use of all his intelligence?
The only source of bliss is the Ātman. The one who searches for happiness outside is truly ignorant. This is exactly like someone having an ocean of sweet water under his feet and still thirsting for a few drops falling from the sky. His whole life passes in those few drops only. This is what people caught in Maya do.
Deliverance of the Self is possible only by the grace of the Supreme Self. But even God helps only that person who calls upon Him with a true heart. The one who is entangled in the attachment of the world and ego and wants to die in it, no one can bring his welfare.
Ignorant people, when they experience happiness, believe that this happiness will remain forever. They think that this world may be sorrowful for others, but for them it will always remain joyful. But this illusion does not last long. That which is with us can also go away. And even if the object remains with us, the mind never stays satisfied. However much worldly joy you give it, ultimately it again becomes sorrowful, because its nature itself is to remain unsatisfied.
In reality, the joy experienced at the time of fulfillment of desires does not come because of the object. When the restless mind becomes calm for a moment, then the bliss of the Self manifests. A few drops of that infinite ocean of bliss fall upon us, and we take it as happiness. But ignorant people do not understand this and believe that this happiness came because their desire was fulfilled.
Yogis know that ego and attachment of the mind to material objects is the cause of sorrow. When attachment ends, sorrow itself ceases to exist. The one who is established in Self-bliss, for him this world is no longer sorrowful.
Happiness and sorrow actually exist only because of the mind. If the mind is simple and pure, then no circumstance in the world can make it sad. The one who is free from ego and attachments, whose mind is pure, his destruction is not possible in this Maya.
Lord Shri Krishna has also said in the Gita that a man’s own mind can be his greatest friend and the same mind can become his greatest enemy. It depends upon the man whether he makes his mind a friend or an enemy. If the mind is a friend, then supreme bliss will be attained in life, and if it is an enemy, then sorrow and restlessness will accompany him.
