Search for Happiness - in vain without search for Lord Krishna

January 30, 2009

Search for Happiness

Everyone is in search for happiness; true, everlasting happiness. But, from our daily experience we can understand that permanent happiness in this world is always elusive. Have you ever pondered why this is so? In order to answer this question, we should know the entity who experiences

happiness, the nature of happiness, and the means of enjoying happiness. In

common parlance, happiness is either derived from sensual pleasures or from

intellectual pursuits. In the case of gross sensual happiness such as eating

our favorite meal or listening to our favorite album, the mind experiences

happiness through the agency of senses. In intellectual happiness, the intellect derives happiness by discernment and innovation. A wise person will agree that both sensual and intellectual happiness are ephemeral in nature and do not give full satisfaction to the human being. Why is it so? The Vedic scriptures say that we are searching for happiness in the wrong

place. According to these scriptures, we are not the body, mind or intellect.

We are spirit souls and parts and parcels of Krishna or God or Absolute Truth, who is the reservoir of all happiness (“The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind”

–

Bhagavad Gita 15.7). Due to this part and parcel relationship, the constitutional position of the living entity is one of eternal happiness being engaged in transcendental loving service of God. Thus, the soul is the entity experiencing happiness. But, in our present position, we are all conditioned by the workings of the three modes of material nature (goodness, passion and ignorance) and have forgotten our true nature, which is one of eternity, happiness, and knowledge. Just as a fish cannot be happy on land, the living entities, who are spiritual in nature, cannot be happy in this material world. The Vedic scriptures give us the panacea to liberate ourselves from our current state of experiencing ephemeral happiness and distress to one of pure ever-increasing bliss. The cause for experience of misery is due to our false identification of being the proprietor of all that we survey and that we are the enjoyer. Hence, the remedy lies in reviving our original consciousness and engaging in service of the Supreme. Just like the different parts of the body become satisfied when the stomach is satisfied, so are the living entities satisfied when they act for the pleasure of the Supreme. Any misconception that this solution is preposterous can be allayed by understanding that service is the only constant feature of the soul. Every living entity is engaged in the service of another living entity in order to obtain happiness as the end result. If only our actions are diverted to serve the Supreme Lord, who is the only reservoir of infinite happiness, and who can reciprocate our pure devotional service with infinite love, we would have reached our goal. Such a stage is only possible when we transcend the three modes of material nature. By transcending the three modes, we will return to our eternal home, back to

Godhead. This raises the question of how to serve the Supreme Lord in pure devotional

service, how to transcend the 3 modes and what is the spiritual realm and so on Inquiries into the Absolute Q. What are the 3 modes of material nature? Ans: Material nature consists of three modes – goodness (sattva), passion

(rajas) and ignorance (tamas). Every living entity in the material world is

under the influence of one or more of these modes. The mode of goodness

conditions one to happiness and knowledge, passion conditions one to unlimited desires and longings and consequent fruitive action; and ignorance, covering one’s knowledge, binds one to madness, indolence and sleep. Actions in the mode of goodness are pure and pious; actions done in the mode of passion results in misery and actions performed in the mode of ignorance results in foolishness. Quotable Quotes • Those who are on the path of self-realization are resolute in purpose, and

their aim is one. The intelligence of those who are irresolute is

many-branched. (Bhagavad Gita, 2.41) • In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material

opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination for devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place. (Bhagavad Gita, 2.44) • You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty (Bhagavad Gita, 2.47) Please Chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Hare Rama Hare Rama RamaRama Hare Hare.

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January 31, 2009

Ohm Namo Narayanaya

Thank you for sending pictures.

January 31, 2009

Hare Krishna!!!

Dandavat Pranams Krishna ChandraJi,

Thank You and Kindly include me in your prayers.

Servant of Krishna Bhakthas

Hari Hari

VinodKrishna--- On Fri, 1/30/09, krishna chandra <krishna_chandra2003 wrote:

krishna chandra <krishna_chandra2003Re: [Guruvayur] Search for Happiness - in vain without search for Lord Krishnaguruvayur Date: Friday, January 30, 2009, 9:33 PM

Ohm Namo Narayanaya

Thank you for sending pictures.