The Meaning of Happiness

[Guest guest]

Dennisji, and respected members,

 

Namaste,

 

 

 

Pardon me, if I sound arrogant, but I come back with the question of degree in

happiness.

 

Though already quoted by one of our learned members, I would like to mention the

Ananda Mimamsa of Tai. Up. (II.viii.i), where happiness is measured by units:

 

The joy of a young man, in the prime of life, good, learned, most expeditious,

most strongly built, most energetic, and with this earth for him filled with

wealth, is mentioned as “one unit of human joy”. The Upanishad further compares

this “one unit of human joy” with the different (Units) degrees of joy of

Gandharva onwards upto Brahma (nor Brahman). However “shrotriyasya

chaakamahatasya” i.e. all the joy of the different categories mentioned i.e.

from Manushya onwards upto Brahma, is the joy of the Knower of the Shruties i.e.

Knower of Self who is unsullied of desire.

 

Ashtavakra Samhita, the Chapter on “Peace” begins

 

“Yasya bodhodaye thavat swapnavat bhavati bbramaha,

 

tasya sukhaika roopaya namaha shanthaya thejase”

 

i.e. Salutation to that which is Bliss itself by nature, calmness, and

effulgent, with the dawning of the knowledge of which all delusion becomes like

a dream.

 

This chapter has a detailed discussion on what is Peace.

 

Vedanta Paribhasha says:

 

“Sukhancha dwidham, sathishayam nirathishayam cheti”

 

i.e. Happiness or pleasure is of two kinds, relative and absolute.

 

“Tatra sathishayam sukham vishayanushangajanita anthakaranavruthi

taratamyakrutha anandalesha avirbhava vishesha:” ‘Etaismaivananddasya anyanani

bhootani matram upajeevanti’ Ithyadi shrute:”

 

i.e. relative pleasure is a particular manifestation of a modicum of bliss

caused by difference in mental state generated by a contact with objects. (Other

beings live on a particle of this very bliss – Br.Up).

 

“nirathishayam sukhancha bhramaiva, ‘anando brahma iti vyajanat’,

‘vignanamanandam brahma iItyadi shrute:”

 

i.e. Absolute Bliss is Brahman alone, and we have shruti texts ‘He knew that

Bliss was Brahman’ (Tai.Up) and ‘Brahman which Knowledge And Bliss’ (Br.Up.)

 

 

 

With regard to possessions and vishayananda I have come across the following

quote:

 

“…the quality of our lives does not depend only on how we accumulate, save, and

spend our money. True (financial) freedom lies in defining ourselves by who and

what we are, not by what we do or do not have. You are the person you are right

now. We cannot measure our self-worth by our net worth.” Suze Orman.

 

I must admit, I do not know who this Suze Orman is or was. I think we should

give importance to what one says and not to who says it.

 

Having said the above, because we need not accept whatever we read. I would

like to further mention the following sloka, which appeared in the recent issue

of Tatwaloka, and the source of which I do not know:

 

“Yuktiyuktam vacho grahyam baladapi shukadapi,

 

yuktiheenam vachasthyajyam vrudhadadapi shukadapi”

 

i.e. That which is consistent with rational thinking ought to be accepted

whether proceeding from a boy or even from a parrot, and that which is

inconsistent with right thinking ought to be rejected even if emanating from an

old man or from the great sage Shukadev himself.

 

With warm regards to all, and Hari Om

 

Mani

 

 

 

 

 

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