The words happiness and Bliss are often used interchangeably in spiritual texts. The meaning, with which the word Bliss is used in one book, is happiness according to another book. Sometimes the two are synonymously used. This can cause confusion in the reader about the terms happiness and Bliss. This may make it difficult for him to understand further concepts in Spirituality.

    Examples of how various spiritual texts use the word happiness and Bliss with various meanings is given below.

Example 1: Bliss: There are two types of Bliss:
    o Bliss in presence of objects is termed as happiness.
    o Bliss in absence of objects is termed as spiritual Bliss.

Example 2: Happiness: Happiness is of three types:
    o Worldly happiness, that is, happiness obtained in this world.
    o Happiness obtained in the subtle world.
    o Spiritual happiness

    Spiritual happiness is superior to the other two for the following reasons:
    1. It is unrelated to any object.
    2. It is self-attained.
    3. It is permanent and unrelated to any kind of unhappiness.

    Such unparalleled spiritual happiness is termed as Final Liberation.

Example 3: According to Sankhya Philosophy:
    Sankhya philosophy talks about the attainment of a state called 'Eternal happiness'. According to this philosophy, if in any way there is destruction of ignorance, then there is separation of the supposed union of the soul and the world. Then the embodied soul is permanently liberated from the bondage of unhappiness.

Example 4: According to Kundaliniyoga:
    When one is able to take the 'dhi' frequencies up to 'kha' frequencies, that is, up to the opening in the Sahasrar chakra, one experiences happiness. If this does not occur then there is unhappiness.

(Continued in the next issue)

[Reference taken from the Sanatan organization’s publication, Vol. 1B: Spirituality, compiled by His Holiness Dr. Jayant Athavale and Her Holiness Dr. Mrs. Kunda Athavale.]