By Hasmukh Adhia

A disciple asks his spiritual master: “Swamiji, why should I consider the world as dream-like when it appears so real to me? Even if it is dream-like, why should i not enjoy this dream experience?” These are questions that come to all of us. If objects of the world are so beautiful, why not enjoy them, instead of having vairagya, dispassion, towards them?

With a meaningful smile, the master replies, “Yes, of course. Feel free to enjoy them, but if you understand anand mimansa, you will make a better choice.” The disciple asks, “What is anand mimansa?” And Swamiji replies, “It is an understanding of the process of how we derive Happiness,” and goes on to elaborate on the subject.

Availability of objects creates desire in the mind to enjoy them. Desire causes agitation. Work hard to achieve those objects. When our desire is fulfilled after a lot of effort the hitherto agitated mind becomes temporarily calm, which is what we call happiness. Happiness is in that sense, absence of agitation of mind.

Example of Deep Sleep is given to prove this. In deep sleep, we get maximum happiness, and we always crave to go back to it every day because it gives us so much happiness. Why is deep sleep a joyous state? Because in deep-sleep state the mind is free of thought and agitation. We do not know, in our sleep, whether we are male or female, rich or poor, doctor or officer. The reason is, as scriptures say, sat-chit-anand, which is the core essence of our Atman. Self is always full of joy. But our mental patterns interfere with the flow of joy coming from within. The joy of Self is manifested better when our mind is peaceful, just as the sun’s rays get better reflected in calm and steady water as compared to dirty and turbulent water.

There are two ways to make the mind happy. One is to fulfil desires related to enjoying worldly objects and second is to desist from allowing the mind to be agitated by discrimination of mind. We see a beautiful lake full of lotuses and feel like sporting in that. But do we see the possibility of crocodiles in it, asks Swamiji. Are we fully aware of pain involved in acquiring and maintaining objects? Do we remember the side-effects experienced by us after every enjoyment?

Object-oriented happiness gives us temporary relief. They require too much effort. They stop making us happy when we see more beautiful things around, and the mind gets agitated again to achieve those objects. As they say, happiness is an interlude between fulfilment of one desire and creation of another desire in the mind. Happiness eludes us all the time, and in the race to get more and more objects – including power and position – we get tired.

A wise person chooses the path of contemplation – by which mental agitation is prevented – and meditation, by which the happiness, which is at our core, is manifested for a longer time. He feels happy all the time. That is a state called purity of mind, which can come by doing punya karma, by performing one’s role selflessly and carefully. Meditation also creates abundant mental peace and happiness. A person with purity of mind is always full of joy, in all situations, favourable or unfavourable.

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