My Happiness part 1 – By Sant Eketarinande Maharaj from Atma Malik Dhyanpeeth India
Atma Malik.
Being asked to write on a matter, for starters, have opted to write on the very heading of this section of this wonderful My Atma website. Happiness is a wonderful matter and every one of us seek and long for happiness in our lives. Happiness is a simple phenomenon where we feel good and contented with everything around and in us, and can be brought about by matters like having enough money, food, a good house, a good spouse, good and successful children, a good career or business, good health and others. Some others may also seek happiness in indulging in intoxicating drinks and substances, and some even may seek happiness, sadly, in hurting others. Nevertheless, these are some paths to the happiness that man desires and embarks upon. Like they say, one man’s meat is another man’s poison, and so be it. Let all be happy. So what is real happiness? Does the list of seeking happiness listed above constitute real happiness? Maybe yes, or maybe no, as it all depends on the spiritual maturity of individuals and what is the individual’s purpose in this rare and blessed life of having taken a human birth. Everyone is entitled to find his or her happiness in whatever way one chooses, and no one may nor is entitled to find fault in it. Life is all about a matter of choice. Being so, the question again is what is real happiness? Real in the context of spiritual practice can be said to be something which is not Maya- illusionary. Real happiness should be something which is not impermanent, and also not just a phase or fleeting moment in one’s life. Many a times, like after buying a brand new car, one feels very happy, but after a year or so, one tires of it and is no longer happy, thinking then instead of the desire to buy another bigger, better and more expensive model. This is an illustration of “temporary happiness”, and it applies to many other examples listed above too. In Atma Malik spiritual practice, and general spirituality too, we meditate upon and love the Atma in us, and ultimately moving towards Oneness with Atma. Here, what are the attributes of Atma? It is Sat- Chit- Ananda. Ananda is simply bliss or equanimity, and happiness is surely a component of bliss! Being so, and having Atma in us, which by itself is pure bliss, a being (human or otherwise) by its very nature is innately happy! And is Atma of a temporary nature? Certainly not, as Atma is eternal and in perpetuity. Nothing can be more real nor permanent than Atma, and it naturally follows that the bliss of Atma too is certainly and without a doubt, real and permanent. This then is the real happiness- bliss, that one seeks. And of course, now that you know about the real Atma bliss and happiness, what next? Do you start looking for it? Do you start searching for it? What do you do? Simple, just realize it, for its always been with you!
