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© 2005 Sanatan Sanstha

Science of Spirituality

Theoretical discussion on happiness and
unhappiness according to various philosophies

Difference between happiness and Bliss

(Continued from the previous issue)

	Happiness	Bliss
1. What is it called?	An experience	A spiritual experience
2. Who experiences the experience/spiritual experience?	The embodied soul	At a lower level, the embodied soul doing spiritual practice ( jivatma). At a higher level, the God-realized soul ( Shivatma ). At the highest level, The Supreme God ( Shiv ) [the soul]
3. From what is the happiness / Bliss obtained?	An external source. The mind and intellect, too, are external with respect to the embodied soul.	Initially - From an object to which one is devoted, e.g., an idol of a deity, a Saint or a Guru. Later - From one's soul
4. The medium of obtaining the experience/spiritual experience	The five sense organs, the mind and intellect	The embodied soul doing spiritual practice or the God-realized soul
5. From what is it obtained?	A. The Great Illusion ( Maya )* B. Ignorance   C. Objects with the three components   D. Since there are innumerable forms of Brahman , e.g., in food, words, sound, etc., the subjects are unending E. Gross	Brahman , the soul   Spiritual knowledge   Objects beyond the three components   The external Brahman is the only subject   Subtle

* Hence, this is like running after a mirage. Bliss is never attained through it.

[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.