Previously we mentioned that true lasting happiness cannot be found within the limits of our temporary material activities. Although one may be convinced that an oasis exists in the desert, as he runs madly after it desperate for relief, the oasis always remains unobtainable, for it is only an hallucinatory mirage. Similarly, seeking real happiness through material means will always prove baffling and inaccessible, yet true happiness does exist just as water also does, one only has to know where to find it.
According to the Bhagavad Gita, as the eternal soul, we have a natural prerogative for eternal, ever-increasing happiness. The soul is a spiritual element characterized by being eternal, fully cognizant and full of bliss. In Sanskrit these qualities are termed sat-cit-ananda. Ananda refers to the blissful aspect of spirit, or the limitless happiness of pure love. Love is the very essence of the soul and through exchanges of love one can access deeper realms of joy. The foundation for loving exchanges is that, as individuals, we possess the ability to express our love through action. Love can be understood to be a verb, a doing word. Performing acts to please the beloved is far more substantial and fulfilling that simply giving word gestures or exploiting one another for sense gratification. There is a story of a soldier, courageously rescued by his friend during a fierce battle of WW2. For the rest of his life a day never passed without him remembering his friend, whilst at the same time he never once remembered the French prostitute he had many times slept with. Exchanges of love are far superior to exchanges of lust.
In fact, for obtaining relationships on this level some are willing to sacrifice everything else. Another story tells of a king who possessed untold wealth and facilities, yet he was the only one there to enjoy it all. One day as he was feeling morose amidst all his unsharable opulence, a tiny bird flew in and landed on his hand. Immediately the king was prepared to renounce his kingdom in exchange for friendship with the bird. Therefore, as the whole world madly rushes on in pursuit of wealth and possessions, we must check to see if we are concurrently developing our loving dealings.
But does increasing material facilities actually augment our happiness? Surveys have shown that although countries like USA are leading the world in how to enjoy materially, they also have the highest suicide and drug abuse statistics. In contrast, Bangladesh, whilst one of the poorest countries, showed that their people were deeply content and happy. Even though without the wealth of the west, still they possess a greater wealth of spiritual knowledge, a happiness born of deeper values and exchanges. One great personality, Sri Prahlada, once said that if you really want to be happy, then stop trying to be happy in this world. The intelligent therefore seek happiness through spiritual connections and spiritual engagements. Jesus also exclaimed that this life is like a bridge with which we should cross over to the spiritual side, not that we should build upon this bridge and try and enjoy.
In Sanskrit true happiness is characterized by being ever-increasingly unlimited. Ramante yogino'nante satyanande cid-atmani (click). Spiritual happiness is by nature unlimited, unrestricted and without conditions. The soul is only limited at present by this clumsy tabernacle of a body. Only in activities corresponding to our spiritual nature can we find real happiness, nityananda, eternal bliss. Therefore if we can utilize this body for our spiritual development then we will receive boundless joy. By understanding who we are and from where we have come, we will know what is our blissful heritage.
Many great teachers have explained that the soul is part and parcel of Krishna, the supreme personality of Godhead (click). Krishna is the absolute truth, the origin of all, and therefore the proprietor of all. Consequently he is the supreme enjoyer. Everything else, including us, are the enjoyed. Krishna is known as the reservoir of unlimited pleasure, and if we align ourselves with Krishna's desire then we dive deeply into that reservoir. The hand is a part of the body having it's own specific functions, but if it tries to enjoy a cake independently without supplying it to the stomach, only disappointment will be felt. However, if the hand gives the cake to the stomach, then it will be happy, nourished and strong. Similarly, if we aim to bring happiness to Krishna through our thoughts, words and deeds, then we will naturally relish unlimited joy. Love means to satisfy Krishna, whereas lust means to selfishly try to satisfy only ourselves (click). One brings eternal happiness and unlimited love, the other only frustration and suffering.
We start to please Krishna by always remembering him through chanting his names and by molding our lives so that we can realize our spiritual love with Krishna. Then we naturally want to help others to also come to that blissful love. In fact, true spiritual practitioners feel great pain and unhappiness upon seeing others bereft of pure love and consequently suffering. Therefore they sacrifice for the welfare and upliftment of others. This pleases Krishna the most and brings the highest happiness to the soul. Whether in great physical pain or whilst tolerating cancerous death, a true spiritual person will never exchange their position for anything of this material world, for they are tasting a happiness known only to those who know and love Krishna.
"Of all the living entities who have accepted material bodies in this world, one who has been awarded this human form should not work hard day and night simply for sense gratification, which is available even for dogs and hogs that eat stool. One should engage in penance and austerity to attain the divine position of devotional service. By such activity, one's heart is purified, and when one attains this position, he attains eternal, blissful life, which is transcendental to material happiness and which continues forever."
Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5.1(click)
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