First, we need to analyze what happiness is. It can be defined as a state of joy, of peace, and of love. Others look at it as an absence of sorrow, pain and suffering. If we look at the many ways people try to attain happiness, we realize that in life that gives us joy has potential suffering in it. Throughout the ages, the great teachers, sages, saints, and philosophers of the world have been telling us that true happiness does exist. But it does not lie in anything in this world. It can only be found within. If we seek it in the world without, we will be continually disappointed. If we look for perfection in this world, we will not find it. Every diamond has a defect, every beauty has a blemish. This is the reason that we find people who attain the object of their desires move on to new desires. We buy one object or gadget and soon want another. People even move from one marriage to another once, twice, thrice, and maybe more. We move from one activity to thinking that it will bring us fulfillment we crave. As long as we are intrigued with the flashy jewels of the outer world, we will continue in this wheel of disappointment. There is only one source of happiness that is lasting, that cannot be destroyed by wind, fire, water, or earth. It cannot be taken from us in this either in this lifetime or at the time of death. The only permanent happiness is God—sat-chit-ananda. These words translate respectively as truth, consciousness, and bliss. Mystics of all religions who describe their experiences with God touch upon this very aspect. More than their experience of divine wisdom they are consumed with the transcendental ecstasy they experience when the soul merges in the Creator. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj
