‘Sahaj Sukh Rashi’ – The World is an abode of sorrow – ‘ye hi saṁsparśa-jā bhogā duḥkha-yonaya eva te’ (Gita 5/22); ‘duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam’ (Gita 8/15). It is only due to assuming an affinity, a feeling of me-mine with this sorrow-filled world, that this ‘jeev’ (embodied soul) experiences suffering. In reality, this ‘jeev’ is an inseparable ‘ansh’ (conscious part) of God, it is nothing but a bundle of joy. Therefore the moment it severs affinity with the body and the world, it experiences it’s spontaneous, inexhaustable, and everlasting joy. ‘sa brahma-yoga-yuktātmā sukham akṣayam aśnute’ (Gita 5/21); ‘sukham ātyantikaṁ yat tad buddhi-grāhyam atīndriyam’ (Gita 6/21), Even on having the ‘paras’ (philosopher’s stone) at home, an ignorant man goes door-to-door begging, in the same way, the ‘self’, though being a heap of joy, but due to longing for happiness, remains immersed in search of worldly pleasures and hoarding which are temporary, with the end result he undergoes great suffering – ‘pariṇāme viṣam iva’ (Gita 18/38).
The main reason for all the sorrow (unhappiness) is – desire for destructible, perishable pleasures. No happiness can be achieved, without leaving desires. ‘sa śāntim āpnoti na kāma-kāmī’ (Gita 2/70). Desire for worldly pleasures cannot be erased with practice, rather it can be erased on experiencing transcendental joy. Therefore an aspirant should want that he become engaged in ‘Naam Japa’ (Divine Name repetition), remembrance of God (bhajan), loud chanting of His holy name (kirtan), reading stories of devotees of God etc. When he begins to relish ‘Naam Japa’ etc., then worldly relish will leave on it’s own. Just as in childhood, one experiences great relish in stones and pebbles, but when one developed relish in money, then the relish for stones-pebbles leaves on its own.
(to be continued)
By Shradhey Swamiji Shri Ramsukhdasji Maharaj, from book “Sadhan ke do Pradhaan Sutra”
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