It is a fact that every individual performs actions with a specific aim. No one can remain inactive even for a moment and no action is performed without a purpose. The Darshan Shastra declares, prayojanamanuddishya … (Darshan Shastra) However, we can say that every individual performs various actions every moment with a single purpose. This may appear strange, but it is true. Some do good deeds and some perform bad ones. Everyone performs actions that give them some kind of happiness. An evil-minded person, for example, derives happiness by harming others, while a saint performs actions for the welfare of others which gives Him happiness. The motive behind becoming rich, being healthy, getting married, having children, being famous, being beautiful or handsome, and so on, is only one: happiness. This proves that without any teaching or training of any sort every individual wants to be happy, and nobody desires sorrow, grief, pain or the like. Why is this so?
anando brahmeti vyajanat … (Taittriya Upanishad 3.6) Happiness, bliss, peace are other names or synonyms for God. Now, a question arises. “What is the relationship between our desire for happiness and God being the personification of bliss?” There is a relationship between the two, as the Ramayana states, ishvara amsha jiva avinashi … (Ramayana) Every individual soul is an eternal part or fraction of God, and God is happiness or bliss personified. Thus, being an eternal part of Him, every individual soul naturally seeks Him, that is, naturally seeks happiness. No soul can ever wish for sorrow.
For infinite lifetimes, all of us have searched for happiness in this material world, but according to our scriptures, the Vedas and so on, and our own personal experience, there is no doubt that worldly happiness is short-lived. It is finite and it is illusive. When we eat a sweet for the first time, we experience great pleasure. But if someone asks you to keep eating the same sweet, you will eventually feel sick and vomit. Thus, if there is happiness in that sweet or any such object, then we should always experience this happiness. But this is not the case. Why do we not derive constant happiness from that sweet or any other object? In this manner, the pleasure we experience from having money, a spouse, a family and eating food etc. fluctuates and ultimately comes to an end altogether.
So why have we not attained true happiness until now? Because we have not understood or realized the true nature of happiness. Where is that kind of happiness and how can we attain it? Surprisingly, despite our continuous efforts to attain happiness, we have not understood what it is and where we can find it. True happiness is unlimited, ever increasing and everlasting. Sorrow can never overpower true happiness, just as darkness can never overpower light.
So where is this kind of happiness? The answer to this question can be categorized into two areas which are intensely debated: materialism and spirituality. According to materialism, there is no entity or authority called God and one will attain happiness through the acquisition of material things. Spirituality, on the other hand, advocates that God alone is happiness or bliss and that by attaining Him the individual soul will be happy for eternity. There is no other way to the attainment of happiness or the removal of pain and suffering.
raso vai sah … (Taittriya Upanishad 2.7) The Vedas declare that even the most intellectual person cannot comprehend God because He is beyond our material senses, and yet, by the grace of God, even a simpleton can know Him. Thus, every individual seeks happiness and since God is bliss, everyone is a seeker of God. Every person will work continuously until he attains true happiness and peace. Materialists deny the existence of God, but they can only claim that there is no entity called God if, according to the scriptures, we do not attain Him after surrendering completely to a Guru and performing His devotion correctly.
The conclusion is that we must believe in the existence of God. But another question arises, “What is the purpose of worshipping Him?” Yes, there is a purpose. We are all selfish in nature and whoever satisfies our self-interest we become attached to. We all long for unlimited, everlasting happiness and that happiness is only in God. All our self-interest will be fulfilled by worshipping God, and without understanding Him, we cannot attain true happiness. Therefore, having a human body, if we do not understand God, then it would be our gravest mistake. We will have to suffer again in the cycle of 8.4 million species of life. It is only in this human form that we can acquire the knowledge of God, practice devotion to God and through the grace of God and Guru attain our goal of everlasting, ever increasing divine bliss.
Recommended Book:
Jeev Ka Lakshya : The aim of human life
It is a fact that every individual performs actions with a specific aim. No one can remain inactive even for a moment and no action is performed without a purpose. The Darshan Shastra declares, prayojanamanuddishya … (Darshan Shastra) However, we can say that every individual performs various actions every moment with a single purpose. This may appear strange, but it is true. Some do good deeds and some perform bad ones. Everyone performs actions that give them some kind of happiness. An evil-minded person, for example, derives happiness by harming others, while a saint performs actions for the welfare of others which gives Him happiness. The motive behind becoming rich, being healthy, getting married, having children, being famous, being beautiful or handsome, and so on, is only one: happiness. This proves that without any teaching or training of any sort every individual wants to be happy, and nobody desires sorrow, grief, pain or the like. Why is this so?
anando brahmeti vyajanat … (Taittriya Upanishad 3.6) Happiness, bliss, peace are other names or synonyms for God. Now, a question arises. “What is the relationship between our desire for happiness and God being the personification of bliss?” There is a relationship between the two, as the Ramayana states, ishvara amsha jiva avinashi … (Ramayana) Every individual soul is an eternal part or fraction of God, and God is happiness or bliss personified. Thus, being an eternal part of Him, every individual soul naturally seeks Him, that is, naturally seeks happiness. No soul can ever wish for sorrow.
For infinite lifetimes, all of us have searched for happiness in this material world, but according to our scriptures, the Vedas and so on, and our own personal experience, there is no doubt that worldly happiness is short-lived. It is finite and it is illusive. When we eat a sweet for the first time, we experience great pleasure. But if someone asks you to keep eating the same sweet, you will eventually feel sick and vomit. Thus, if there is happiness in that sweet or any such object, then we should always experience this happiness. But this is not the case. Why do we not derive constant happiness from that sweet or any other object? In this manner, the pleasure we experience from having money, a spouse, a family and eating food etc. fluctuates and ultimately comes to an end altogether.
So why have we not attained true happiness until now? Because we have not understood or realized the true nature of happiness. Where is that kind of happiness and how can we attain it? Surprisingly, despite our continuous efforts to attain happiness, we have not understood what it is and where we can find it. True happiness is unlimited, ever increasing and everlasting. Sorrow can never overpower true happiness, just as darkness can never overpower light.
So where is this kind of happiness? The answer to this question can be categorized into two areas which are intensely debated: materialism and spirituality. According to materialism, there is no entity or authority called God and one will attain happiness through the acquisition of material things. Spirituality, on the other hand, advocates that God alone is happiness or bliss and that by attaining Him the individual soul will be happy for eternity. There is no other way to the attainment of happiness or the removal of pain and suffering.
raso vai sah … (Taittriya Upanishad 2.7) The Vedas declare that even the most intellectual person cannot comprehend God because He is beyond our material senses, and yet, by the grace of God, even a simpleton can know Him. Thus, every individual seeks happiness and since God is bliss, everyone is a seeker of God. Every person will work continuously until he attains true happiness and peace. Materialists deny the existence of God, but they can only claim that there is no entity called God if, according to the scriptures, we do not attain Him after surrendering completely to a Guru and performing His devotion correctly.
The conclusion is that we must believe in the existence of God. But another question arises, “What is the purpose of worshipping Him?” Yes, there is a purpose. We are all selfish in nature and whoever satisfies our self-interest we become attached to. We all long for unlimited, everlasting happiness and that happiness is only in God. All our self-interest will be fulfilled by worshipping God, and without understanding Him, we cannot attain true happiness. Therefore, having a human body, if we do not understand God, then it would be our gravest mistake. We will have to suffer again in the cycle of 8.4 million species of life. It is only in this human form that we can acquire the knowledge of God, practice devotion to God and through the grace of God and Guru attain our goal of everlasting, ever increasing divine bliss.
Recommended Book:
Jeev Ka Lakshya : The aim of human life
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