Revel In Permanent Bliss

To be blissful at all times is our inherent nature. Our real Self, Atman is ever blissful just like Shiv sitting on the snowclad Himalayas. Tranquil. His posture itself is significant. The Himalayas represent the mind. White is associated with purity. A pure mind is blissful. And how is the mind purified? With knowledge, as represented by the Himalayas. The knowledge of Vedanta was born in the Himalayas.
What is purity? Purity signifies no other. When gold contains some other substance, it becomes impure gold. When there are impurities in copper, it becomes impure copper. When the mind sees no other, it is pure. When there is otherness there is competition, quarrels. People are seen to be harming us and hurting us. They are taking from us and maligning us. But when there is oneness, the world cannot agitate us. When your teeth bite your tongue, do you hate your teeth?
Why do we perceive otherness? Because knowledge of the Self is absent. With knowledge of the Self, there is universal identification. We see the Self in all. Everyone is Divine. The heart opens up to loving unconditionally. We revel in the joy of all. One of the best markers of spiritual growth is how happy one is to see the advancement of others; how happy one is in the happiness of others. We are so excited because someone is getting married, another is buying a car, a third has got a promotion or a fifth is on a wonderful vacation. So thrilled to see people expressing joy on their social media handles!
Oliver Goldsmith says, ‘I am a lover of happy human faces.’ But when there is otherness, one is filled with jealousy and contempt. The point to note is: under which of the two above conditions is one reveling in joy? With oneness or with otherness?
The feeling of oneness is the effect of spiritual development. It cannot be practised. It cannot be forced. It has to be grown into.
The ignorance of the Self is known in Vedanta as avidya or vasanas. Vasanas manifest as desires. Desires propel action. When we perform an action, it has an effect or consequence. These consequences design our world. We re-act to the world. We claim results as good or bad and thus feel joy or sorrow. This is our experience. For example, a desire makes us hasty. The haste impels a mistake. One gets a negative result. One could either justify that mistake or rectify it. Based on what we choose, there will be further results. Our world gets molded in that particular way. Thus, both the world and our reaction to it, is the result of our vasanas.
Karm yog , Bhakti yog , Jnan Yog , paths of service, devotion and scriptural studies respectively, reduce vasanas and the knowledge of the Self is revealed. Then, the past impurities and agitations are all instantly wiped out. Shankaracharya compares this to a light being brought into a dark cave. No matter how long the darkness existed or how dense the darkness was, the strike of the first match vanquishes it.
As vasanas reduce, oneness or love increases and a new level of happiness or joy unfolds. This is symbolised by the dance of Shiv. He becomes Nataraj and dances with the joy of Self-Realisation . The world, the darkness of ignorance, is destroyed meaning its capacity to inflict sorrow is gone. And it is not 0 or 100. As one does sadhana and approaches the Self, more and more joy unfolds. The peace that we are looking for in the world is found within. Its route is simple — gain knowledge of the higher and purify the mind. Revel in permanent happiness.

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International Day of Happiness is observed on March 20

Authored by: Janki Santoke