A logical explanation for “I” to Find Happiness

Happiness — Everybody wants it, everybody thinks he knows how to get it, but very few really get it.

In our world today, we have more conveniences and comforts than people had just 100 years ago. We’ve got amazing things like smartphones, fast cars, and endless entertainment. In the world of social media, the doors to connect, engage, and make new friends and relationships are truly boundless. But here’s the puzzling part: even with all this cool stuff, we still often feel like something is missing. We keep looking for the next exciting thing, job, destination, relationship, etc that will make us happy.

Picture this: our lives are like a super fancy car, loaded with all the latest gadgets. We’re the ones driving this car, making choices about where to go. But even with all these luxuries at our disposal, the urge to find the next thing that will give us happiness never stops.

Why am I in this never-ending treasure hunt to find happiness ?

Everybody has this question but there was no logical answer until I discovered the enlightening videos by Swami Mukundananda. His teachings have been like a beacon of light, helping me make sense of it all.

There are three questions that can solve this puzzle :

1. Who am “I”?

2. Why does “I” want happiness?

3. Where will “I” get happiness?

Who am “I”?

Swami Mukundananda’s explanation truly strikes a chord with me. He beautifully illustrates the concept by likening ourselves to a chariot driven by five horses. In this analogy

· Our body becomes the chariot

· Our senses — sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch — are represented by the five horses.

· The mind assumes the role of the reins, attempting to guide and control these senses.

· Steering this chariot is the intellect, acting as the driver who holds the reins,

· The essence of our being, the ‘I,’ takes on the role of the passenger. This “I” is the Soul.

Why Does “I” want happiness?

Think about a tiny piece of sweet mango — it’s just like the whole delicious fruit. Or a small drop of water — it’s similar to the entire ocean. Even a baby elephant has the same special qualities as a grown-up elephant. This teaches us something important. We (“I”) are part of God and have the same properties. God is full of happiness and eternal bliss. Hence it is the property of “I” to be happy and keep searching for it till it finds one.

Where will “I” get happiness?

Sometimes, we get confused and think we are just our bodies and what we can feel with our senses. This makes us go after things that make our senses happy, like yummy food, cool gadgets, or money. But, our scriptures remind us that we are divine souls, part of God. These teachings show us something important: what makes our soul happy is different.

Think of it like using different equipment for different targeted muscle groups. The equipment needed for a strong arm is different for a strong back. Our soul’s happiness is a bit like that — it needs something different. Burger or Pizza will not give it pleasure. No matter how much stuff we collect, it can’t fill the soul’s unique hunger for happiness.

Where do we go if we feel like eating sweets? If we keep going to a shoe shop or a clothes shop expecting them to satisfy our craving for something sweet, we’ll probably just end up feeling let down. We need to go to a bakery or a sweetshop to get something sweet. Similarly, “I” is divine and will find happiness only when it attaches itself to the divine or the Supreme God.

My learnings from Swami Mukundananda

For me, the explanation above is logical however there is more to it. Happiness can only be achieved when you :

1. Believe

2. Contemplate

3. Practice the attachment of “I’ to the divine.

Please do checkout the video to learn more from the authority himself : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFbZwI1oZPM&t=14s