Thought 112: Aananda is the absolute happiness (Continued)

Do you know that all rivers inevitably flow into the ocean; they are created that way. The rivers get their water through rains (from clouds, which form as result of evaporation of waters of the ocean) from the ocean and they flow back into the ocean ultimately. Our bodies are derived from food, which is derived from the earth and when the bodies die, they go back into the earth. This is the rule here – “Everything must go back ultimately into the source from which it originated”.

Worldly happiness is like the river waters. As a rule, all rivers flow into the ocean. The ocean, however, does not depend on outside sources of water for its existence - it has all the water it needs in itself. It is full by itself. It is majestic by its own right.

A river flows across many places and it may even change its course at times. Also, when there are severe rains, the river cannot contain itself within its normal boundaries – it overflows its boundaries and inundates the adjacent lands.

Unlike a river, the ocean has fixed boundaries and it never ever crosses its fixed boundaries; the ocean is virtually grounded. The ocean is always full. It is full before the rivers discharge their waters into it. It is also full to the same extent, even after the rivers discharge their waters into it. It never ever overflows its banks – no matter how many rivers discharge their waters into it, they fail to raise its level. The extra water gets absorbed quietly, without producing any change in its level - without causing any disturbance in it.

Also, the ocean does not dry up when the rivers cease to discharge their waters into it. It always remains calm and undisturbed – and full.

Like the ocean, the Jnaani (the man of wisdom) is always full. His fullness (which is the absolute happiness) does not depend on presence and absence of objects of this world. In him, desires get quietly earthed as they enter. Even if innumerable sense objects constantly pour their stimuli into his mind, they fail to disturb him; they get quietly resolved in his Buddhi.
Aananda is an experience one would gain when a person is with himself. For instance, when a desire is fulfilled, one is happy – and this momentary happiness is because of being with oneself. At that moment, a person is totally satisfied with himself – and he does not want to be something else (he does not want more happiness than that)
Aananda is the fundamental nature of all human beings. The objects, which seem to give some happiness or sorrow, do not possess the happiness or sorrow – they are merely instruments which give happiness or sorrow. When there are clouds, the sun is masked. When the winds drive away the clouds, the vision of sun is produced – but the sun has always been there. The wind has no role to play in this - other than being an instrument to remove the clouds. So it is with the absolute happiness. The worldly objects or the happy situations clear the gloom or the sorrow that is masking the happiness, which is always present in your self.

The next thought is about “Count your blessings and be happy”