Happiness of the soul is inexplicable. It cannot be compared with any thing of the world, nor can it be fully described by the choicest words. Just as the spicy taste of green chillies and black pepper can be distinctly experienced but their exact difference cannot be communicated in words due to limitations of language, in the same way, the Enlightened One can experience the transcendental happiness of the soul but falls short of words while explaining it. There is nothing that comes close to its freshness and sweetness. If the gross flavour of spices cannot be described even after having tasted them, how can the subtle supreme bliss of the soul that is beyond the perception of senses be put into words?

Since time immemorial, one’s attention has been on everything other than his own Self, and hence he has only experienced sorrows. But when the awareness turns towards the Self, one experiences a blissful state. The bondage of desires and passions weakens and the experience of bliss grows stronger. The wondrous grandeur of the soul is such that having experienced it; even the best worldly pleasures appear dull, worthless and irrelevant.

Those who reside in the palace of blissful consciousness do not want to come out into the life of weal and woes. The moment the divine blissful consciousness is realised, the attraction of the outside world fizzles out and the opulent comforts and empires drop effortlessly.

The Measure of Abundance

One who has no experience of his indescribable bliss seeks happiness from the outer associations. Attaching himself with worldly objects and feelings, he turns away from his own independent, eternal and real happiness. Only when he ceases to project happiness on the world and identifies with the absolute, pure, blissful consciousness; the incomparable happiness beyond the senses and the mind manifests. Upon tasting this, he attains a wondrous fulfilment.

Thus the secret of a happy and content life lies in simplicity, renunciation, and non-possessiveness. Prosperity is not measured by what you have but what you can live without. One with the least necessities progresses most on the spiritual path.

Non-possessiveness

The Enlightened Ones, fulfilled by the bliss of the soul, have annihilated their worldliness. They say that even a little bit of possessiveness destroys happiness. Contrary to this, the worldly seek happiness by acquiring more and more. That appears beneficial and joyful to them and so they fill up their homes, leaving no corner vacant. Even though they may appear prosperous from outside; they are empty, poor and unhappy within.

The law of ‘Travel light’ applies to spiritual journey too. The less you have, the more peaceful you are. In the name of gaining happiness, you hoard things, and then become unhappy due to anxiety of protecting them, multiplying them and enjoying them. But those who have the right understanding of the path of dispassion realise the greatness of the soul and keep away from possessing things.

Desirelessness

The Enlightened One is so content with the Self that He is neither interested in hoarding things, nor does He feel excited about receiving honour from the world. He remains equanimous in conducive and non-conducive circumstances, harbouring no desire or aversion. On the other hand, not only common people but also so-called renunciates and religious teachers fall for honouring titles! Forgetting the greatness of the soul, they find happiness in adding various types of titles before and after their names.

The ignorant one, in the absence of Self-awareness, feels either happy or sad while experiencing the sense objects as desirable or undesirable. The world is important for him. But as long as there is attachment for worldly events and things, it is impossible to realise the Self. He believes acquiring and losing to be the only reality, not realising that in the eternal consciousness, there is no gain or loss of anything. Thus, by identifying with whatever he comes across, he creates likes and dislikes. Just like clouds come together and then scatter, family, friends, and relations come together and then scatter away. No associations are steady, they are all momentary. Knowing this well, the Enlightened One does not seek happiness from fleeting associations. Even while experiencing the world through His senses, His interest lies only in the blissful consciousness; there are no desires or aversions created. Due to identification with the eternal Self, dispassion and purity keep increasing every moment.

The Enlightened One does not take refuge in associations, for His refuge is conscious blissful Self. The ignorant one has no faith in the soul. He remains unaware of the transient nature of the associations and tries hard to maintain them. In doing so, he does not get connected with his real nature and suffers.

Once a monk was visiting Japan. While his discourse was going on, there was an earthquake. All listeners ran out for safety but the monk continued to sit. After the earthquake had subsided, the listeners returned to the hall and were surprised to see the monk sitting there. Upon enquiring, the monk said, ‘when the earthquake happened, I too ran like you all. The only difference was that you saw your safety outside and ran outside for shelter, and I felt my safety in going within, so I rushed within.’

The Enlightened One has no inclination to make changes outside. He remains witness to external changes. Without any desires or aversions, good or bad feelings for transient associations, He remains in tune with the eternal blissful consciousness.

Devotion for the Enlightened One

True devotion unto the Enlightened One is to reflect upon His state of being. One who has developed devotion unto Him has reached the portal of the nature of the soul. As love for the Enlightened One increases, so does love for the nature of the soul. Attachment to family, wealth, business, etc. nurtures sin. When love for them changes its direction and flows towards the Enlightened One, the attachments weaken, and give space for right recognition and connection within. This is why saints say, ‘give up attachment and get attached to the one who has given up.’

Without devotion and complete surrender unto the Enlightened One, it is not possible to truly love the soul. And without true love for the soul, one cannot begin the right contemplation of the Self and recognise one’s own innate nature. Surrender. Concur with what He says. Once you surrender, the Enlightened One will say that you are complete. You don’t need me anymore. Look within at your own Self. Thus, He will command you to dissolve your temporary identity and identify with your eternal nature.

The awareness of the Enlightened One is turned towards the Consciousness; He remains equanimous while His mind, speech and body are experiencing the fruits of past karmas. His actions are only to exhaust the karma, as He does not identify with them. It is as though the mind, speech and body together behave like a friend helping Him attain the state of absolute purity. This is a mysterious and astonishing phenomenon. Reflecting upon this wondrous mystery again and again, there arises great reverence for the Enlightened One, as a result of which, the devotee feels inclined to turn towards that higher state of being beyond body identification, and eventually attains it too.

Through the words, countenance and company of the Enlightened One, the aspirant understands the greatness of the Self, and follows the means as shown by Him to realise the true Self. By increasing his eligibility through scrupulously following His commands and with unwavering faith, the aspirant understands the heart of the Enlightened One and because of this he turns towards the nature of the Self.

Devotion for the Guru when arises with the right understanding only enhances the feeling of greatness for the nature of the Self. Just as a lover of wealth, while praising the rich, is, in reality, praising the riches and not the rich, in the same way, one having love for the Self, when singing the glory of the Enlightened One, is praising the Self.