A true yogi experiences boundless happiness by overcoming his desires, says DHRUVA BHARGAVA
We aspire for wealth, power, status and prestige, as we derive immense pleasure and sense of worth out of them. We wholeheartedly yearn for trust, care, love and affection and derive a sense of security and belongingness. We unconditionally and spontaneously help the needy and that gives us immense joy and contentment. A soldier, with a sense of pride, even sacrifices his life for his motherland. Our motto is spreading happiness among others,yet it’s us who ultimately derive happiness for every action we perform is underlined by a desire to seek happiness. Intriguingly, our desires are dualistic in nature.We desire accomplishing all that we crave and avoid all that we dislike. We feel happy and content in relationships, situations and objects;we desperately avoid those who stress us.Thus, craving and avoidance are two aspects of desire.However, desires are fleeting and cyclical in nature.No sooner a desire satiates, then another emerges entangling us in its web. We somehow have an impression that external objects cause happiness and to remain perpetually happy, we must acquire more.Yet everlasting happiness remains elusive. However, the happiness we experience, while fulfilling our desires, is ephemeral.
Objects, in themselves are neutral and devoid of qualities, but we look at them through a prism of wants, desires and feelings.And soon,we either covet or shun them.This is subjective and varies from individual to individual. Had this not been so, the same object would have kindled the same reaction in everyone. Mistaking objects of desire as sources of perennial happiness is rooted in false knowledge.Therefore, right knowledge is essential in seeking freedom from cyclic experiences of happiness. We must understand that we are an infinite field of happiness and being happy is natural to us.However,an erupting desire creates a wave of turbulence in this field and our happiness gets enveloped by clouds of desire.As desire gets satiated on achieving the object of happiness, turbulence subsides,clouds disappear and inherent happiness, like a clear blue sky, manifests of its own accord.This spell of happiness may last briefly — before being enveloped by another rising desire. Happiness,therefore,cannot be caused through efforts, nor is it dependent on external objects.Happiness is our inseparable essence as fragrance is to flower, flow is to river and warmth is to sun. Happiness is what we are and is ever experienced internally.
An object apparently lies outside of our existence, but the consequent pleasure or pain, joy or sorrow is experienced within. In our waking and dreaming states, our experience of happiness becomes cyclic and transitory as mind and desires simultaneously come into existence.Mind along with sensory inputs in the waking state and stored impressions of anxieties, fear and cravings in dreams — projects the world and desires within us.These states cause ripples in the underlying field of happiness. In deep sleep, there is no mind, no world, no desire or activity.What exists is pure awareness that is devoid of objects of desire. It’s the state of unceasing happiness. Consciousness is then, sat-chit-ananda.Nevertheless,in our waking state by being active yet remaining detached, we can remain perpetually happy. A true yogi, by fully overcoming his desires and passions, directly accesses and experiences this boundless field of happiness and is firmly grounded in bliss.
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