Happiness is what we all crave for in life- in some form or other.  Happiness is not an abstraction but something deeply rooted in our experience, our consciousness, although we may find ourselves unable to verbalize this experience. Happiness, however has to be understood differently from pleasure which is the result of association with desirable objects, our indulgence in personal desires, and which is short-lived.   What we actually want is a continuous experience by which we feel whole and complete, where there is no ripple of desire in our mind, where we function spontaneously, act out of transparent motives. In fact, as per Swami Bodhananda, whenever there is real satisfaction we become speechless. We become silent when the meaning of happiness is understood.  Those who know do not speak, and those who speak, do not know.

            Lord Shri Krishna in Bhagwad Gita tells us about three kinds of happiness:(1) That happiness which begins and ends in delusion, and arises from sleep, indolence, and heedlessness  is declared to be “dull”. It is born of Tamas, or cosmic forces inducing dullness. (2) That happiness which arises from the contact of objects with the senses, which though at first like nectar, is like poison at the end, is declared to be “passionate”.   It is the product of Rajas, or cosmic forces creating restlessness. (3) That happiness which one learns to enjoy through practice, by which one comes to the end of pain, and which is like poison at first but like nectar at the end, is declared to be “pure”, born of Sattva, or cosmic forces producing harmony.

            Similarly, Swami Vivekanand, speaks of three kinds of happiness:(1) In animals, and in the lowest of human beings who are very much like animals, happiness is all in the body;(2) happiness in men who are of a higher order lies on a higher plane – that of thought; and (3) happiness in the Jnani the man of Self-realization, is the highest and is experienced in the Supreme Self.

            Further, as per Bhagwad Gita – “Any pleasure is conditioned, by time, place, quality of the object, one’s state of mind and level of intellect” and that – pleasure is only sugar-coated pain. Pleasures may be meaningful in certain contexts but cannot give us lasting satisfaction, they bring limited  happiness and are of momentary/transient nature. Vedanta calls it bhogsukha contingent pleasure gained through indulging in desire.

                        In the words of Swami Yatiswarananda (Book-Adventures in Religious Life) - “Truly speaking the happiness we realize within does not exit in outward things or persons.  When a desire is satisfied momentarily we become desire less.  Then a bit of the bliss that is within us wells up. The very fact that a person who brings us happiness at one time may cause us misery at another shows that the happiness we feel comes from our mood of dispassion revealing to us the Supreme Spirit which is of the nature of Bliss.  The quality, quantity, and duration of bliss we may enjoy depends upon the quality, quantity, and duration of our desirelessness.”

            In similar words of Swami Bodhananda (Book - Happiness Unlimited): “True happiness is experienced when the mind observes the world in a detached manner.  True happiness comes when we enjoy non-judgmental observation tempered by the understanding that pleasure cannot give us the lasting joy we seek.  When we relate to our environment with that understanding, then our minds become serene and quiet.”

            It is often misunderstood and said that a person who follows the above path becomes totally inactive, loosing all interests in life and the world, and/or leading an unproductive life.   On the contrary as per  Swami Bodhananda - 

“True sannyasa is neither escaping from nor complaining about one’s environment and its challenges.   True sannyasa is renouncing the search for happiness in the world.  When you no more seek happiness in relationships, or in possessions  – that is sannyasa”.

“A sannyasi is called “His Holiness” because his happiness is whole – and wholesome.  His happiness ceases to depend upon anything.  This independent happiness is called moksa or yogasukha – transcendental bliss.”  

            In this state of yogasukha, the happiness we gain by freeing ourselves from the pull of objects and desires is spontaneous and natural. In the words of Swami Bodhananda- “Out of that spontaneous happiness arises a very creative person. It is not that after gaining that happiness one sleeps all the time; those whose happiness is spontaneous and natural become very creative and active.  Everyone ought to strive for creative happiness and intelligence.  That is our goal, our destiny and birthright – to understand and to realize our own inner spiritual joy and fulfillment! Thereafter our perception of deficiency ceases. Gone is the nagging sense of inadequacy.  We feel complete and whole.”

            The source of real happiness lies within us, it does not originate from or depend upon external things but we keep looking for it outside, like the parable man of Shri Ramkrishna, who with a lighted lantern in his hand goes around to their  neighbors’ house asking for fire to light his pipe, or like the musk-deer wandering in the woods searching  madly for the  fragnant  musk which lies within its own naval.   In the words of Swami Yatiswarananda: “Happiness we seek very earnestly lies in our own hearts, but our desires and passions, lust, anger, greed, infatuation, pride and jealousy stand in the way.”