Happiness Explanation in Satsang

The excerpt of today's Chinmaya Satsang

When does one truly experience happiness? Often, it is said that happiness emerges when our desires, wishes, and expectations are fulfilled in the precise manner we envisioned. Until such fulfillment occurs, the mind remains restless, agitated, and in a state of perpetual longing. There is a constant internal tension as we strive towards the realization of these goals. And yet, the moment these aspirations are achieved, the mind seems to relax, to rest, and in that stillness, we find a fleeting sense of happiness.

But now, let us consider the inverse of this paradigm. What if, instead of waiting for external desires to be fulfilled, we could train the mind to remain in a state of relaxation and calm, regardless of external circumstances? If the mind could achieve a state of peaceful stillness, even in the absence of external gratification, might this not lead to a deeper, more enduring form of happiness? Perhaps, rather than being the result of external conditions, happiness arises from the state of the mind itself, suggesting that true contentment is less about the fulfillment of desires and more about the cultivation of inner tranquility. Thus, the question shifts from "What can I attain to be happy?" to "How can I bring my mind into a state of contentment, independent of external conditions?" In this way, happiness becomes less of a goal and more of a state of being, intimately tied to our internal peace rather than our external achievements.

But how to get into the state of contentment?

Embracing just 20 minutes of mindful stillness or non-doing is one way I have personally found to have a profound impact.