YOU ARE AS HAPPY AS YOU WANT TO BE
The Vedantic vision that happiness is a state of mind which is independent of the changing world, is succinctly explained by Smt. Jaya Row
Swami Rama Tirtha said, “If you are not happy as you are, where you are, you will never be happy.” Yet, everyone is waiting to change one or two things in
fulfilled divided by the desires
harboured. You are in the life to be happy. You achieve that one thing, and another replaces it. This goes on endlessly.
Happiness is your choice. You can choose to be happy in the worst of circumstances or be miserable with the best in the world. Happiness is a state of mind. When the mind is tranquil, free from agitations, you are happy. However, you are in a constant state of unrest which arises from a feeling of inadequacy. Vedanta helps you to change focus to your abundance. Consequently, the things you lack will cease to bother you.
The mind gets turbulent when you carelessly entertain desires without realising the sorrow they breed. Yet modern life encourages us to desire and consume more. Mounting unbridled desires make people enter the murky areas of crime and destructive behaviour.
Vedanta gives a unique formula for happiness. Happiness is the number of desires
mindless pursuit of fulfilling desires, focussing on the numerator. This will never make you happy. As you fulfil a desire, more pop up. The denominator increases, reducing your happiness. Instead, shift your attention to the denominator. As you reduce desires your happiness increases. Eradicate desires and you reach infinite Happiness.
The first step to eradicating desire is to ask if it is in your interest to pursue it. If yes, fulfil the desire. If not, press the delete button on it. The next step is to reduce desires by upgrading them. A mother willingly sacrifices her desire for chocolate when her child enjoys it. When you are inspired by the spiritual goal, all desires fade away. Seek the Spirit and the world will be at your feet!
Vedanta promises happiness completely independent of the world. The world is unpredictable, and to depend on it is like expecting to earn a steady income from gambling!
Inner enrichment is inversely proportional to dependence on the world. A spiritually evolved person needs little from the world to be happy but has the capacity to command the resources of the world. They may need only a one-bedroom modest home but have a luxury penthouse apartment. The surplus he has over his needs puts him in heaven. A less evolved person needs much more from the world. Ironically, he lacks the capability to gain them. There is a huge gap between his needs and his income which makes life hellish.
Vedanta helps in two ways: It helps leverage your talent and energies to attain success and prosperity. It also develops you spiritually, by which your dependence on the world reduces. You are in bliss!
Jaya Row
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this article. Mail us at editor@lifepositive.net