By: Vijay Kumar Verma, Editor-ICN Group
All of us are in pursuit of happiness. The eternal happiness of life. But many of us fail to realise the true value of happiness. To us bits of pleasure realised in satiating instincts is happiness.
For example a person carrying heavy load in scorching sun on his head is delighted to see a shady tree where he can relax a while, and if he finds a pitcher of cold water beneath the tree he is all the more happy. Now what all has changed in the circumstances. A shady tree and cold water? He relaxes a while, quenches his thirst and walks away. The same scorching sun is back over his head. And soon thirst too will again take over. The shady tree and cold water had provided him momentary pleasure and all this was short lived. The pleasure that is felt by the sensory glands viz. the skin that make one feel air and the tongue that realises the taste and so on. But are these sensory pleasures lingering?
A hungry rejoices palatable food, a thirsty delights tasty drinks, a tired relaxes in soft bed, a worked up is gladdened on a holiday, a break. Watch a alcoholist deriving pleasure at the sight of a wine shop. And then as he holds the bottle and then as he gulps it down the throat. There is a glimpse of satisfaction on his face. But as the intoxication dies down, the same sadness is back. What it was? All these pleasures are momentary. The satisfaction was shortlived. Because all this related to the sensory glands of the body. The satisfaction derived by instincts. And these pleasures are not lasting. And more so, these sensory pleasures will ignite for need for such a satiation again. And till not received, it will add to the grief. Now imagine, such a satisfaction is not only short lived but also adds to the misery in future. How worthwhile is it?
As you all know that we, the humans, are endowed with five “Gyanendriyan “, the instincts that give us knowledge. These are eyes, ears, nose, skin and tongue. And remember your entire life will not be enough to satisfy the never ending needs of these instincts. Your eyes are always on the lookout for something satisfying and so are your ears. You wish to watch and listen to what your mind desires. Your skin is yearning for the silky touch and tounge is slurping for the lingering taste. But can these taste buds be ever satisfied? You feel intoxicated at the fascinating aroma of sensory delights. But is it ever fulfilling? Rather in the pursuit of fulfilling these wordly desires we lose the very sight of the goal of life. Imagine if just for the satisfaction of these instincts we are wasting our precious life, how we are going to achieve the real objective.
Remember, all this is Maya created by God and we remain entangled in this net for life. We keep performing karmas that lead to outcomes and keep us bound to the cycle of life and death for deriving karamphal.
Watch a saint enjoying the chanting of God’s samkirtan. There is no external factor that makes him happy. He gets intoxication in the name of God. The happiness is being derived from within. As we get up in the morning from deep sleep, how satisfying we feel. Was there any external factor that was contributing to our satisfaction? Any choicest food we relished, any scenic sight, any company of our loved one was there in sleep? For those long 8 hours we were lost in the internal conciousness. The sub consciousness did play a role in bringing dreams, but the overall relaxation of the body and mind brought us a sense of satisfaction.
Remember that happiness can only be derived from the internal source that God has planted in each one of us. View the level of satisfaction derived in sharing and caring. Enjoy the bliss of giving away. Enjoy the bliss of total surrender to almighty for that eternal happiness.
Aayshmaan bhavah!
