Geethartha Chinthane 135: Why are we happy when children win rewards?

Happiness and sorrow can be classified into two types: inert (jada) and conscious (chetana). For example, there is pleasure in eating. This is an inert kind of happiness, but it is experienced by the conscious being within. The happiness arising from the inert is experienced by the soul due to attachment (abhimana). Similarly, the happiness and sorrow in the mind are also inert in nature, but they are felt by the soul because of attachment.

When we wake up after sleeping, we feel ‘fresh.’ The freshness belongs to the mind (inert), but the happiness of feeling refreshed is experienced by the soul (conscious). Freshness is inert, while the experience belongs to the soul. This happens because of the attachment to the thought, “This is my mind.”

When our children receive rewards, we feel happy. But when other children receive rewards, we don’t feel the same joy. The happiness does not stem from the reward itself; rather, it arises from the attachment, “These children are mine.” If the happiness was solely due to the reward, everyone would feel equally happy for any child receiving it.

This kind of attachment (abhimana) is the root cause of both happiness and sorrow. Similarly, the reason for the soul’s experience of happiness or sorrow within the body is the attachment to the idea that “this is my body.” If one lets go of this attachment, sorrow will not arise. The same attachment is also the reason for physical happiness, but it is not applicable to spiritual happiness.

Lord Krishna advises us to renounce attachment to the body, the mind, and the notion of “I” or “mine.” By letting go of these attachments, one can transcend physical joy and sorrow and attain true spiritual bliss.

~ Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji of Paryaya Sri Puthige Sri Krishna Matha

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