Page 43 - NAMAH-Jan-2023

Namah The Pursuit of Happiness

the bottom. Chances are that the stronger
the safety-net, the smaller will be the fall,
the fewer will be the falls, and the higher
and safer the climb. And so let’s explore this
safety-net, the theory of delight, that the wise
Elders have left us.

The Kena Upanissad says:
The name of That is “That Delight”; as That
Delight one should follow after It. Know it.
Towards That all existence turn.

तद्धतद्वनंनामतद्वनमित्युपासितव्यंसयएतदेवंवेदाभि circumstances, takes more than the satisfaction
हैनम्सर्वाणिभूतानिसंवाञ्छन्ति॥ (Kena Upanishad brought by the ephemeral self. The little
4.6) self can be selfishly complacent, uncaring
of other’s joys it may be overlooking to
But is that delight a far-off star? No, says the keep itself happy. But its joy is transient,
Taittirıya Upanissad (3.6), it is so near we are precariously dependent on circumstances
i
breathing it all the time, and were before our and people. When the true Self can make
birth and will be after we pass on. us satisfied we can then truely be satisfied,
for the true Self is an eternal portion of the
All these creatures are born from delight. divine. This delight is constant, independent,
आनन्दाध्येवखल्विमानिभूतानिजायन्ते। self-sustaining.
They are sustained by delight
आनन्देनजातानिजीवन्ति। So should we reduce our expectations and
And return to delight when they pass on. accept whatever life offers us? Even if it is
आनन्दंप्रयन्त्यभिसंविशन्तीति। painful or ugly? No, on the contrary, dream
Really, we are bathing in this ocean of delight, big for various kinds of joys are available
and yet experience sorrow? How is that to us. In the body these vividha-aanandas
possible? Desires, expectations, lack of union are: Kama-aananda, the joy of fulfilled
with the Soul, as Krrssnna says: desires, vissaya-aananda the joy of objects
of sense, tıivra-aananda acute joys, raudra-
‘When one can conquer desires born of aananda passionate joys, and vaidyuta-aananda
the mind, and one is satisfied in the S/self electrifying joys of the nervous-system. In
by the S/self, then one’s wisdom is well the heart, one can feel the joy of love, prema-
established’. aananda. In the mind, the joy is without any
reason, ahaituka-aananda. And in the higher
प्रजहातियदाकामान्सर्वान्पार्थमनोगतान्| planes; the joys are many: constant joy sada-
्
आत्मन्येवात्मनातुष्ट: स्थितपरजञस्तदोच्यते|| aananda, joy of consciousness chid-aananda,
्
Bhagavad Gıta 2.55 joy of the all conscious beings around us
a
i
chid-ghana-aananda, pure joy ssuddha-aananda,
To be satisfied in the self, independent of joy of union kaivalya-aananda.
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