"Don't Be Disturbed by Happiness."

"Don't Be Disturbed by Happiness." 

I remember back in the spring of 1971 in Austin, Texas when I was first ushered into the sublime world of spiritual enlightenment, Krishna Consciousness, by my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, and his transcendental followers. That was the most incredible time of awakening for me. I always swim in the sweet memories of those days and relish very much the association of those few who were my soul mates in those amazing transformational days. 

One of the most amazing concepts I was introduced to at that time was that I should not be disturbed by happiness. To the uninformed casual observer this idea would seem quite absurd. "What do you mean that I should not be disturbed by happiness? Happiness is what I am always trying to get as much of as I can possibly can."

This concept is described by Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita:

yam hi na vyathayanty ete

purusam purusarsabha

sama-duhkha-sukham dhiram

so 'mrtatvaya kalpate

"O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation." Bhagavad-gita 2.15

How could not being disturbed by happiness make one eligible for liberation? Not being disturbed by unhappiness anyone can easily understand. Nobody wants to be disturbed by unhappiness. But not being disturbed by happiness? What does that mean?

Being disturbed by happiness means to be carried away or intoxicated when things go nicely in this world so much so that one forgets that this material world is after all a place of misery. Sometimes when things are going well we are the under the illusion that we will live happily ever after in this world. But this cannot be because that is not the nature of this world. We are living in the world of dualities. As we discussed in Lesson C9, there are always ups and downs in this world coming again and again like seasonal changes. 

If we become intoxicated by the good times, we will be devastated by the bad times. Therefore the best thing is to not to become giddy or carried away by material happiness. We should soberly take it in stride understanding that it is only temporary. If I base my happiness on material happiness I am sure to be disappointed because it is only temporary. We should instead find our happiness on the transcendental platform where it can never be touched by the dualistic nature of material existence.

The easiest way to attain this transcendental platform is through the ancient science known as mantra yoga. "Mantra" means a transcendental sound vibration that liberates your mind from the dualities of material existence and allows you to enter into the eternal transcendental dimension of bliss and knowledge. There are thousands and millions of suitable mantras. It is recommended in the Kali Santarana Upanisad that in this age of Kali the most suitable mantra is the Mahamantra, the Great Chanting for Deliverance. It goes like this:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

If you will chant it regularly, you will taste a sweet transcendental flavor that will completely liberate you from the dualities of material existence. For the maximum results you should chant it 24 hours daily or as much as you can squeeze into your daily schedule. Give up all frivolous activities and focus your energy as much as possible on reviving your dormant Krishna consciousness. Happy chanting!

Sankarshan Das Adhikari