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On Hinduism
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06. Life Goal
A true word used in Hinduism is Ananda, a state of causeless bliss and joy. There are many theories about True Happiness (sukha). Happiness is a state of mind and is achieved in many different forms for different people. Some may say happiness is fulfilment of desires, e.g. people striving for something in their lives and upon achieving their goal, they can say they found happiness. But, True Happiness, according to the sages, is a State of Being that cannot be acquired from the world outside, but comes from within. When one is at peace within oneself, then there is true joy and calmness.
When you are in a state of ananda, you are able to find joy in little things like being outside under blue skies, a bird singing, or being in sunshine or the rain. When you are in a state of ananda, you find a purpose in life by doing greater good for humanity.
The other side of happiness is dukha (sadness) that comes out of not accepting the world as it is but desiring a world of your dreams and then having an attachment to the desire. Desires and attachments to worldly things bring miseries in life.
Other reading material:
Relevant videos: Swami Nikhilanand Hinduism Q & A: What is True Happiness
Contributor: Mukta Vadera
Location of this post (6c): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/what-is-true-happiness/
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06. Life Goal
32. Hindu terminologies
Ananda is a state of causeless bliss and joy.
The Hindu tradition teaches that this is our original state, not a destination to be achieved through effort and strife. We are caught in a web of ignorance and greed that deludes us about our true nature and causes us to be happy or unhappy on account of external events.
A fish does not strive to be in water, it already is. We already swim in the Ocean of ananda, but behave like a fish out of water, helpless and distraught. Realizing the truth of our original state, we can go about naturally in this world.
This is also the reason why many Indian holy men have the suffix “ananda” in their names. They have dropped their ignorance and now live in a perpetual state of causeless bliss.
.Other reading material:
Relevant videos
Contributor: Gaurav Rastogi
Location of this post (32a): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/what-is-ananda/
Category:
32. Hindu terminologies