We have everything we need – and we are still unhappy. What is the reason of this pervasive unhappiness in the world?
Lord Krishna tells Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita: “Arjuna, ashantasya kutah sukham? If man is not at peace with himself, how can he be happy?” The key to happiness – indeed, the secret of true happiness is peace of mind.
We lack peace of mind, because our minds are restless; our minds wander constantly; and we wander with the mind. All day long, the mind wanders, dragging us along with itself; nor are we still and restful at night. Even in dreams does the mind wander; and we struggle ceaselessly in its wanderings. Therefore, it happens that we are never at peace.
How then can we stop the mind from wandering? Arjun asks of Sri Krishna. “O Lord, Thou hast said that the wandering of the mind is the cause of all human sorrow. Pray tell me then, how can we stop the mind from wandering?”
Lord Krishna tells him: “It is difficult, but not impossible to control the mind.” Indeed, it is possible for each one of us to conquer the mind and bring it fully under control.
For this, two things are necessary: vairagya and abhyasa. It is only with a guru’s grace that we can attain these two qualities. As we cultivate reverence for the guru, the impulse arises within us to follow the path of abhyasa or practice of spiritual discipline. Many people make this effort, but only those blessed with the guru’s grace succeed in their efforts. Such blessed souls follow the path of abhyasa successfully, and gradually attain to the state of vairagya or detachment.
It then becomes possible for them to control the mind, and inner peace soon follows. He who is blessed with inner peace is happy in every state, every condition of life.
He who is blessed with peace of mind is always happy – even if he is penniless and he owns nothing in this world. Saints, great souls and renunciates have nothing to call their own; yet are they radiantly happy. Such was the darvesh who said: “Nothing in the morning have I and nothing do I have at night. Yet there is none on earth happier than I!