SEEKING HAPPINESS IN WRONG PLACES
Happiness is the most coveted destination the world over. But despite our passionate chase, it comes fleetingly between several moments of boredom or bitterness. A welcome change, a promotion at work, feasting with friends or watching comedies does bring a smile on our face. But the feeling soon fades away and is put off until the next good news arrives.
Sometimes we plan an outing to break away from the routine. But either the preparation period is too exhausting for the few moments of happiness that we manage to steal or knowing that our Mental holiday will soon be over plays a spoilsport. In the end, happiness does not feel like our constant companion but a VIP guest that is too hard to get and always in a hurry to leave. We then desire another version of it, one that has more depth and longevity.
In the conventional understanding, happiness is derived from things ‘happening’ in the world outside and receiving those through touch, taste, viewing or listening. However, a major downside of depending on sensory pleasure is that we get addicted to it and that makes us over use our sense organs. That causes loss of health and resources, and over time, as our physical faculties degenerate, we are unable to derive through them the same pleasure that we used to. This increases our suffering.
True happiness is not a fleeting feeling but an inherent state of our being. It dwells in a pure and healthy mind and is independent of sensory perception. It lies not so much in the external source but in how we perceive it, and the quality of thoughts we create. For example, while the idea of an escape into snow clad mountains could excite a youngster, the same trip could seem taxing for an elderly family member.
Happiness is a spiritual phenomenon that unfolds as we remain in harmony with our inner space. When our core qualities of truth, purity, peace, love and joy find resonance in our actions and, most importantly, we choose to stand by our conscience, we feel good, easy and light.
Sympathising with others, extending our cooperation to them or indulging in random acts of kindness bring us great satisfaction. That’s not all. The cumulative karmic return of our positive actions then comes back to us in the form of others’ good wishes and gives us full flight. However, when we bypass the call of our conscience, we feel suffocated; our wings are clipped.
Self-centred people may be able to hoard everything, but the wealth of contentment remains elusive to them. Constantly over-occupied in the race of accumulation, in calculating their profits, pushing themselves up in the hierarchy, and holding on to things too tightly, there is no relief for them. Fear, worry and greed overwhelm their mental processes always, even when they have it all.
We can lead a fulfilling life by setting into motion what is best inside us, creatively channelling it for the common good, and in moving forward. For this reason happiness can never reside around laziness or passivity.
The question is – if we all have our best inside us, why is violence the most common form of expression today?
With passage of time and the influence of the world around, the original virtues of souls decline. And then comes a time when our being gets so corrupted that our goodness remains only in traces. It is then that the never-ending race for seeking happiness becomes such a rage that people want it by hook or crook.
When we are empty inside, we look outside. But seeking a spiritual treasure in the material world doesn’t help. To reach our destination, we must take the right road and approach the right source.
With the help of Raj Yoga Meditation we will tread on a path which will lead us to the source of ultimate bliss. The only unbound, imperishable source of pure happiness that can refill us is our Supreme Father. When we learn and follow the path of kindness, happiness and blissfulness, we get closer to the almighty. Raj Yoga Meditation not only help us in knowing ourselves better but also Him - The Supreme Soul.
When we know His introduction, and are able to connect and draw from the Ultimate Spiritual Powerhouse, we can recharge ourselves so that we no longer remain seekers of happiness but are able to spread it wherever we go.
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