Hinduism

Happiness is within

Swami Tejomayananda, Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide

Vedanta teachers that the happiness that we seek from the outside is within us. We see that people are busy all day and night.

They sometimes even say that they have no time to die! Everyone wants to go somewhere, to get something or become something.

If you ask why they want these things, they will say it's for happiness. To be or not to be something, to hold on to or to give up something, to meet and to part, are all for the sake of happiness alone.

Swami Tejomayananda

Marriage is for happiness and divorce also is for happiness. Man searches for happiness from outside all the time.

Vedanta says that the joy which each one is searching for is not outside, it is within. It even goes one step further and says, "You are that joy!" Our struggles end as soon as we realise this. We will be free. When we depend on things outside for peace and joy we get only bondage, not peace. There may be a fleeting glimpse of joy for a moment, but that is not true happiness; it is only an illusion of happiness. Real happiness is that which puts an end to sorrow.

There has been so called happiness in our life but that happiness has not removed our sorrows. So we have never been happy in the true sense. Only one who has turned his vision inward and realized the true happiness, is no more bound. Once we contact this joy within, it can never be lost sight of, whatever the circumstances, time or place. From the experience of deep sleep we can understand that there can be happiness even when there is no object of enjoyment.

What is this source of joy? It comes from the blissful Self alone-but we are unable to recognise it because of our ignorance of the Self. Our search alone with the bondage ends when we gain this vision and realize our true nature to be bliss.

Swami Tejomayananda's answers to questions on the topic:

Q: How can one be happy when there is so much misery around? Is it not selfish to meditate and try to attain happiness for oneself?

A: When people around us are unhappy, it is our duty to help them out of their misery in whatever way and to whatever extend we can.

The misery of others can be due to subjective or objective reasons. If someone needs money, we can help them financially. If they need emotional solace, we should provide that.

Some need our time, so spend time with them.

We are not supposed to celebrate when others around us are unhappy. But again, that does not mean we should become or remain miserable.

How can one who is himself unhappy alleviate the pain of others? A drowning man cannot be helped by one who does not know how to swim.

How can a poor man help another financially? How can a physically weak man serve another in pain? How can an emotionally imbalanced person give emotional support to another? If we are trying to make money in order to serve the poor, or making ourselves physically strong and emotionally balanced in order to serve and give solace to others, it is not being selfish.

Serving others requires great inner strength. One hears of psychiatrists who themselves become patients or social workers who become bitter.

So let us gain inner strength and the right attitude; then we will succeed in alleviating the pain of others.

Students in medical college should not give up their studies when they hear of disease around them.

In fact they must put forth more efforts to qualify as doctors because only then can they truly help others.

Similarly, those who meditate to attain liberation are not selfish.

They are only qualifying to liberate others later.

Q: We have seen people gaining comfort and happiness from material wealth whereas we have not seen the happiness and joy which people gain from spiritual wealth. How then would we get motivated to gain spiritual wealth?

A: It is not that we do not see the gains of spiritual wealth. It is only that we may not have been alert to an understanding that what we have seen is spiritual joy. A person who gains this spiritual wealth acquires equipoise, balance and serenity. He exudes peace, joy and love.

Q: What is this freedom? In your lectures, you talk about attaining freedom, and point to that as the goal of life. Freedom from what? Are we not free people?

A: Ha! We think we are free? Think for yourself! We wake up in the morning and if hot water is not available for our baths, we become miserable. Then if we do not get the right cereal for breakfast, we are angry.

At office, if the cleaner has disturbed the papers on our desk, we feel frustrated. When we get back home if the wife does not smile we get depressed. If she smiles too much we are worried. See how delicately poised our happiness is? Where is the freedom?

The outside world of things and people is perpetually dictating our happiness and sorrows. We are slaves to the outside world and to our mind and senses.

When we see some delicious chocolate mousse, are we free? Do not misunderstand. I am not saying do not have chocolate mousse.

But do we have the mastery over our mind so that whenever we want to employ our mind or senses in a given field, we can do it; and whenever we want to stop and withdraw, we can? The freedom our Scriptures talk about is freedom from slavery to our own mind.

His Holiness Swami Tejomayananda, head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide is well versed in scriptures, has original texts as well as commentaries on texts written by other masters to his credit. His book 'Hindu Culture: An Introduction" has been adopted as an academic text by some American Schools. As a laudable devotional singer, he has recorded several albums with original music and lyrics. His profound, poignant, and pictorial talks on Sant Tusidasa's Ramacharitamanasasa and Veda Vyasa's Shrimad Bhagavatam are world-renowned, highlighting his spiritual wisdom and masterful storytelling.

Swami Tejomayananda will be in Sri Lanka conducting talks in English on Ramayan at New Kathiresan Hall in Bambalapitiya from the 19th to the 22nd of October 2008 from 06.30 pm and 08.00 pm. Admission will be free of charge.

For further information contact Chinmaya Mission of Sri Lanka, 32,10th Lane, Off Schofield Place, Colombo 3. Tel: 2591344.

Understanding Hinduism - 02:

Hinduism: Paradoxical Thoughts

K.S. Sivakumaran

Sage Kapila

Sage Thaayumaanavar

Scholars say that the Hindu religion as practised today is more Tantric than Upanishedic. The Tantric system obliterates the abstract ideal of the formless Nirguna Brahman.

Ramakrishna from Bengal in India (19th century) could be said Tantric in practice. But his disciple Vivekananda spread the Vedantic philosophy of the Upanishads in the west. Ramakrishna favoured the worship of Kaali rather than lose himself in Brahman. He preferred to eat sugar and not become sugar itself.

Ramanar who lived in the last century however favoured the Advaitha system. Both Ramakrishna and Ramanar are considered saints the saints by the Hindus. Both lived the lives they preached.

This shows clearly that true religious life does not depend on the system one follows. To some the path of devotion comes naturally to them. To the others the path of analysis come easy. In fact a mixture of both appears to be the best. This is what the Thamilian poet and sage Thaayumaanavar of the 17th century advocated and practised. The paradox is that all the three saints mentioned renounced the world and led the life of hermits

The renovation of the Kovilkulam Sivan Temple was completed recently. Here the Maha Kumbabishekam being held with religious rites being performed to the Koburam (towers) of the temple. Picture T. Vivekarasa, Vavuniya SPL, Corr

Hindu religion today is an amalgamation of many philosophies of the past. These philosophies remained merely schools of thought. and never crystallised as practical religions. We learn that a sage called Kapila pronounced the theory of Karma long before the others. His role was to explain the differences observed among human beings. But if this theory is applied only to one life, then there could be problems. It should therefore be applied to both the past and the future,

The Varusabisekam Festival of Sri Varatharaja Perumal Kovil, Kotahena took place recently. Here the chief Priest performing special Pooja. Picture A. Maduraveeran

The theory of Karma led to the theory of a Migrating Soul. But this did not solve the problem. It was asked how and when the Soul came into existence. It was told that the Soul was eternal. Humans wanted to live eternally, hence the answer.

In theory the Hindus are Monists but in practice they are Dualists, It is not easy for them to forego traditional beliefs, temples, Gods and Goddesses, rituals, ceremonies, priests etc. For them a personal God and individuality is necessary. However the Bhaghavat Gita gives the necessary authority to lead a worldly life and yet remain spiritual by surrendering to God everything.

The Hindus interpret the sacred books according to their own knowledge and experience. That is why we have innumerable religious sects among Hindus. There is room for any schools of thought in Hinduism. There is room for the savage and the saint. These two are only reflectors of the omnipresence and they have no intrinsic merits or demerits of their own. They are only masks and the anonymous actor is the omnipresent God. This is the general attitude of the Hindu in justification of his belief that there could be anything else beside God.

Annual abisheka flag hoisting and arrattu (water cutting) festival of Aluthmawatha All Ceylon Anantha Iyappa Devasthana was held recently. Here Bramasiri Narayam Nanpoothiri and Agith Nampoothiri conducting Kalasa Poojava for God Shuri Iyappa. Also trustee of the temple Raji Sivaree with devotees are in the picture. Aruna Ponnambalam-Kotagala Group Correspondent

The concept of God that he is outside this world is fast disappearing. His omnipresence and omnipotence are generally accepted. God is revealed by the sacred books-Vedas. However we can say that religious works are the result of inspired seers.

If inspiration is the source of our religious beliefs, then reason cannot aspire to sit on judgment. In other words we should believe and act according to those injunctions whether we like them or not. Unfortunately this is not practical.

More thought as I understood next week.

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'Kolam' competition

In view of the forthcoming Navarathri Vizha. The Hindu Association of Lake House is organising a 'Kolam' competition on September 27. Following is the breakdown of the types of Kolams and the prizes.

                1st prize       2nd prize     3rd prize

Ma-Kolam     3000         2000           1000

Rangoli        5000          3000           2000

Drawn Kolam 1000         2000          1000

Those who wish to take part in this competition are requested to send in their application with their name, address, telephone number and the type of Kolam they wish to take part, to the following address before September 15.

The Secretary,
The Hindu Association of Lake House
Daily News Editorial
Lake House,
Col. 10.

Your are required to paste this address on the envelope. For more details please see the 'Thinakaran' Newspaper or contact the Secretary on 011-2429213 or Asst. Secretary on 011-2429276. Family members of the employees of Lake House are not eligible to participate in this competition.