Science of Spirituality

Happiness and unhappiness

Continued from the previous issue

Overcoming unhappiness completely

If one never wants to be unhappy, then one has to go beyond the duality of happiness and unhappiness. Unhappiness does not vanish by denying it, and joy does not come by merely wishing for it. Hence it is best not to think about happiness and suffering. The state beyond happiness and unhappiness is called the 'balanced state of mind'. In this state, the individual experiences neither happiness nor unhappiness based on worldly objects. That is, the individual does not become happy with joy and is not aggrieved with unhappiness; on the contrary, he is engrossed in enjoying inner Bliss.

Happiness and unhappiness, the average individual and the spiritually evolved

An average individual: The average individual experiences both happiness and unhappiness because he is influenced by the anadi (one without a beginning) illusion by means of which he considers the Great Illusion (Maya) to be the truth. This illusion can be eliminated by spiritual practice.
A Spiritually evolved being: A spiritually evolved being with a spiritual level of more than 70%, that is, in the stage of Self-realization, enjoys only sattvik (sattva predominant) happiness. In this stage, one believes that 'the Great Illusion is fake'. Thus the anadi illusion does not exist, but even so, he does not experience God's Omnipresence. This is due to the existence of the adi (one with a beginning) illusion. This illusion can be overcome only by the grace of the Guru. In other words, one realizes the existence of God in the Great illusion, and thus the seeker attains non-duality. The knowledgeable ones, ascetics, the spiritually evolved, that is, those at a very high spiritual level, enjoy only Bliss because they are rid of the adi illusion.

Continued in the next issue.

[Reference taken from Vol. 1B – Spirituality, compiled by Dr. Jayant Athavale and Dr. Mrs. Kunda Athavale.]

*If one is not currently doing any spiritual practice, or to complement one's current spiritual practice, one can begin with the simple, but powerful spiritual practice of chanting or constantly remembering God's Name according to one's religion. Chanting also acts as a useful complement to any spiritual path one may be already following. It is a practice recommended for the current times by Holy texts and Saints of all religions.

To begin with, one can repeat God's Name according to their religion (refer to Issue 3 Clarification of Doubts section for a list of God's Names as per various religions), or the Name that they feel most comfortable chanting.
Interested readers can determine the exact chant for them from the experiment given inIssue 124, Message to Seekers section.