Happiness in Oneness

Happiness is the universal quest and pursuit of every human being. We are  born happy as a child, but somehow struggle to hold on to this blissful state while  growing up. We do everything possible for attaining happiness in our life, right from  eating good food to wearing expensive clothes, from education to travelling across  the world, from owning a dream home to buying a comfortable car and much more.  Happiness still remains an elusive aspiration. Happiness has a different meaning  for different people, based on their desire and its fulfilment. Happiness that  comes from fruition of desires is temporary and ephemeral. One desire leads  to a second and the second leads to the third and so on, eventually becoming an  endless chain of expectations. But happiness continues to be a distant dream. The  reason lies in the fact that we don’t comprehend the substance and profoundness  of true happiness. 

True happiness is a blissful state of mind which is characterized by stability  (Sthirta) and equanimity (Sehejta). The utopian state where there are no  attachments, enemies, illusions or fears; a state where expectations are replaced  with gratitude; animosity with love; fear and illusion with awareness. This, though it  may seem a task, is actually a very simple process which begins by connecting  with an entity that is eternally stable. The material world is ever-changing and the  changeless in this changing world is the one and only all-pervading, eternal,  permanent and formless One (Nirankar). Till the time we identify ourselves with  our body, mind and possessions, we are bound to be caught in the web of fear,  illusion, attachment and ego. We need to realize our true self by knowing the  Truth, which is a process of seeking and finding the vivid distinction between the  creator and the creation; eventually witnessing the creator in creation and the  creation in creator. This knowledge has been passed down the ages by various  saints and sages, who experienced the presence of the formless One, thereby  attaining eternal happiness and bliss. This realization and experience can be  achieved even today. Once we realize this most noble and highest Truth of life,  that we as souls are an essential part of the over-soul, the omnipresent,  omniscient and omnipotent formless One, we start moving on the path of  eternal happiness. Let us talk about this journey. 

To begin with, we tend to take things for granted in our lives, expecting more and  more, which becomes a reason for our misery. Oxygen, for instance, was never  taken as serious a blessing as it was during its shortage during Covid-19. Meeting  friends and family, going to school for education, eating in a restaurant, all of this  became a distant possibility during the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead of expecting  more from life, we actually need to be thankful for the infinite gifts we already have.  Gratitude bestows immense happiness, both to the giver and the receiver  when offered with purity of heart. A simple ‘Thank You’ can transform a situation  or relationship diametrically. Service of mankind, when done with selflessness is a  natural outcome of gratitude. Gratitude should also not be with an expectation of 

the greeting or gesture to be returned. Even if we offer a glass of water to  someone with gratitude and selflessness, seeing the essence of Nirankar in them,  it becomes a reason for bliss and joy. Gifting, sharing and caring are extremely  sublime and delightful acts. This kind of offering becomes Sewa (selfless service)  rather than invoking a feeling of ego or arrogance. 

Just remind yourself about the last time you gave something to anybody and the  very thought will bring a smile on your face. Giving away is an inherent trait of  every part of nature, including humans. The sun, rivers, trees, earth and air, all  have been continuously providing us with their resources, without any expectation.  But we humans become selfish and enforce conditions while giving away even a  little bit of what we have and expecting much more in return. This is the reason for  our sorrow. This does not necessarily mean that we should not desire to grow in  life. It only means that after having performed a specific action, we should leave its  outcome to the divine verdict, stay content and be thankful for what we are  receiving. It means that growth is mutual and universal. We can’t expect to save  our home if our neighbour’s house is on fire. 

The second aspect that disturbs our happiness is hatred and animosity with  others. The cause may lie in our judgements, assumptions or criticism; all of which  arise from our ego, a false sense of pride that is attached to ignorance of our true  self. When we become aware of our true identity, which is beyond our caste,  color, race, religion or nationality etc., all of the above vices vanish, giving  way to pure love and compassion. Judgements and assumptions are replaced  with ‘The benefit of the doubt’ outlook. We see ourselves in others, celebrating  diversity instead of creating walls and wars. A single ray of enlightenment can  transform a vagarious mind, which is habitually attached to the ephemeral world;  rendering it to become stable and aware, very much like a drop of rose essence  that can transform the fragrance of an entire pot of water. What seems huge and  unsolvable becomes tiny and irrelevant. Those who seem alien and opposite  become lovable. The perpetual mindful remembrance (Simran) of our eternal  source is the only way to stay in this blissful state. Simran paves the way of  being happy by feeding our mind with positive and happy thoughts. It does not  necessarily mean sitting in a meditative posture and chanting a name or a mantra.  Do we remind ourselves of our loved ones by sitting in a definite posture? As a  matter of fact, we simply don’t forget the ones we love. Likewise, once we come to  know and experience the formless One, we don’t need to remember it. Rather, we  would never ever forget it. Our walking, talking, eating and sleeping would all  turn meditative in essence

A conscientious soul further seeks the company of other enlightened souls  (Satsang), sharing and learning from each other’s divine experiences and  strengthening mutual faith and understanding. This three-fold formula of Sewa,  Simran and Satsang, after receiving enlightenment is a sure way to happiness and  bliss. Happiness does not lie in the outer world, achievements or  circumstances; it lies in our own vision and choice. If anyone can get us  happiness, then that is our own self. Herein lies the concept of self-love; of loving 

ourselves not with selfishness, but with true understanding of the ‘self’. The ‘self’  that has its source in the formless omnipresent God, the ‘self’ that is beyond mind,  body and materialistic possessions. Once this realization is established, we can  nurture our mind, body and possessions without getting attached to them. This  magical vision of detached attachment is the way to true happiness, also  enunciated explicitly by various saints and sages. We, as children remain in this  state for most of the time, but as we grow up, the conditioning (Samskaras) by the  world around us traps us, leaving little room for the survival of our ‘inner-child’.  Thus, if we want to remain happy, we need to forget and forgive like a child. We  need to sing and dance like a child. 

Another reason for human worry and anxiety is fear and illusion. The fear of  disease, death, failure or penury etc. and the illusions of our identity, our life and  its objective. Once again, these can be overcome with the light of knowledge.  When one realizes that death, disease and ageing etc. are inevitable parts of  human life and that our life is just a drop in the ocean of our eternal existence 

then, fear disappears. A rope can induce fear in darkness, because its shadow  might appear to be a snake to someone, causing illusion. But, as soon as there is  light and the truth is evident; there is no fear or illusion. Fear is a result of  ignorance. Awareness and enlightenment dispel all kinds of fear. 

When the boat of our mind is wavering in the ocean called life, it can be provided  stability by anchoring it to the Truth. This stability translates into Happiness. 

Greed and selfishness can give us only superficial happiness, that too only  for a little time. Rather, the final outcome on this path is always regressive and  baneful. Lasting happiness can be achieved by realizing and following the path of  Truth, which can be prolonged and challenging, but most certainly, blissful and  rewarding. 

The object of happiness can be achieved through Practical Spirituality.  Spirituality essentially means to ‘Know One, Believe in One and Become  One’. Practical Spirituality means to live Oneness, by humbly surrendering every  action to Nirankar and establishing Oneness in the world through selfless service  of all. We saw how humanity came together during the Covid crisis and people  across the world came in support of each other surpassing all differences, be it  caste, creed, color, religion or nationality. It was a sort of reminder, that we might  metaphorically have our individual identities as leaves, fruits, branches or flowers  of a tree called humanity, but our fundamental identity is that of a tree; with our  root being Nirankar. None of us can survive in isolation. We might be different, but  are essentially One. Being One is the gateway to Happiness. Let’s hope, pray  and work to ensure that it does not take another pandemic to make us  realize that there is Happiness in Oneness. 

To summarize, realization of the Truth makes our mind stable and  equipoised, leading to eternal happiness. Happiness is not to regret, rather  learn from our past and not worry, instead work for our future. Happiness is to 

stay in the present moment with awareness, acceptance and gratitude. 

Happiness is to be free, yet in control; to reach for the sky, yet be  grounded. Happiness is to float instead of swimming in the ocean of life.  Happiness is to be One with One. 

– Her Holiness Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji Maharaj

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