Happiness Without Peace?

Friday, May 21, 2010, 17:41

In sanskrit, 'Su' means 'excellent' and 'kham' means 'space'

Both together, lend themselves to be spelt as 'sukham', an 'excellent space!' It is an excellent space by entering which I seek a happy experience! Contrary to this is 'duhkham' meaning a painful space causing unhappy experience!

By space, I generally mean a physical space, outside me which is marked by the material prosperity. It is studded with land and buildings, stocks and shares, cars and convertibles, ornaments and armaments which I acquire, possess and enjoy. It is a place where I have power and position, enjoy recognition, praise and reception.

Besides this there is another space, a space within me, a psychological space! An excellent space if it can be free from dullness and despair, free from agitations and craving marked by lust, greed,hatred, jealousy, pride and ostentation! An excellent space, if it is governed by peace and tranquility!

For him, whose mind is not gathered and composed, meaning who is dull or agitated, the intellect, the faculty of discrimination is not available. He cannot be contemplative since this is only a blessing of intellect. He has no concern for others. For him, who lacks humanism, there is no peace. For him who has no peace where is happiness?

Happiness is rooted in peace! Peace in turn in humane feeling! That in turn in the composed mind!, and not in the agitated and dull mind! Happiness is then the grace of mind. For him who enjoys that grace, the intellect - the faculty of discrimination - gets restored to stable equilibrium, even if it gets ruffled in his interactions with the world.

Lord Krishna expresses this in Bhagavad Gita as follows:

“Naasti buddhirayuktasya no chaa yuktasya bhaavana
Na chaabhayatah shaantihi ashaantasya kutah sukham II/66
Prasaade sarva duhkhaanaam hanirasyopajaayate
Prasannachetaso hyaashu buddih parya - vatistate 11/65"

The grace of mind also dispells and dismantles all that painful space existing within. It is then joy and joy alone that rules.