Applying knowledge and action systematically
Narada’s Search for Happiness
(Adapted from “The Himalayan Masters” by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PH.D.)
There was a learned yogi (holy person) named Narad. Narad had mastered the sixty-four branches of knowledge including; knowledge of the scriptures and the knowledge of science and arts (mathematics, astronomy, medicine, economics, ethics, grammar, philosophy etc). He was recognized as a teacher of the highest wisdom.
One day Narad thought, “I am teaching my students the art of happiness, but I am not happy! I must rethink about my way of life and wisdom. If I cannot get happiness with so much knowledge, then how can I impart happiness to others? I wonder if anyone in this world is happy. I must find out how to find happiness.”
Narad set out on a quest to find knowledge which would bring him happiness. Wherever he went people would welcome him with respect. He would ask, “Can you tell me about that knowledge which brings happiness?” The people would reply, “You are a learned scholar, out of humility you are asking these questions.” While the people thought in this manner, Narad did not get any guidance to answer his question.
Finally, Narad met the great sage Sanat Kumar. Sanat Kumar said, “I will help you. Please tell me what you know already.” Narad related the list of subjects that he had mastered.
Sanat Kumar, “You know so much and still you are unhappy.”
Narad replied, “My knowledge has not brought me peace or joy. I am tired of knowing things, yet still drowning in misery. Please help me to find freedom.”
Sanat Kumar explained, “The worldly knowledge of science, art and even scriptures help you to earn a living and respect. This is why people master various subjects though it fails to bring them happiness. Meanwhile, the book of life remains unread. While you were engaged in worldly activity, the call of your soul began asking you to search for the highest truth. Thus, you are experiencing conflict and unhappiness. The only way to know happiness is to know yourself at every level of your being.”
Narad asked, “How can I know myself at every level of my being?”
Sanat Kumar replied, “Your speech is a reflection of your thoughts and your inner life is created by the way you think. If you want to know your inner life, first examine how you speak. The more you observe and study your speech the more the inner content of your mind will be revealed to you. Study the connection between your speech and your mind.
You can control your speech by observing silence, but this will not bring you happiness. First you must bring peace to your tongue. You can achieve this by speaking in a way which does not harm yourself or others. Speak the truth kindly and sweetly. Second, avoid meaningless talk. When you bring peace to your speech, you may find that your mind becomes turbulent.
Study the mind, understand what you are thinking about, why you think and how the thought affects your speech and actions. If you cannot quieten the mind, then fill your mind with the awareness of God, the highest truth. Then you will notice a subtler force, determination (sankalpa). It is only on your orders your mind can think, it cannot think unless you decide that it will. Thus, your determination which is a desire springing from the core of your being leads to the activities of the mind.”
Narad questioned, “If determination is more subtle than the mind, then why is it we cannot control the activities of mind and our thoughts go unchecked?”
Sanat Kumar replied, “You are right Narad. The mind’s activities go unchecked because of subtle impressions stored in the unconscious mind. The unconscious mind is like the memory on a computer, impressions of your past experiences are stored as memory in the unconscious mind. You have forgotten what is stored and where it is stored but it affects your will power without you being aware of it. This is why you sometimes think thoughts that you don’t want to think, or say thinks you do not wish to speak, or postpone thoughts and actions you want to perform and do actions you do not wish to perform. Your determination has lost its power because something awakens the unconscious thoughts without your awareness.
Narad puzzled asked, “Is there any law governing how and when subtle impressions of the past arise?”
Sanat Kumar explained, “The law is simple. Similar attracts similar. Contemplation, a facet or your conscious thinking triggers the awakening of the stored impressions in the unconscious mind. This in turn affects your determination, conscious mind, speech and actions.
Contemplation also prevents the unconscious mind from affecting the conscious mind. It is your power of determination that makes contemplation effective. It is more powerful than the unconscious mind.
For a novice it is hard to work at this level, because even though contemplation triggers the force of determination, it also awakens the negative impressions stored in the unconscious mind.
Narad this is the reason, from the very beginning it is advisable to contemplate on the principle that is more powerful than the negative impressions of the unconscious mind. Fill your consciousness with the highest truth, God-consciousness, while you work on self-transformation and self-improvement.
In the beginning maintain God-consciousness by keeping the highest goal in mind throughout your study of the scriptures, throughout your discourses (speech) and in your reasoning. This way the worldly knowledge becomes a means of gaining highest, intuitive knowledge. Knowledge that is not functional is a burden. If knowledge does not make you move forward it is dead. Therefore, to make your knowledge active and vibrant you must meditate and thereby unfold the supreme power of will within. The power of will, the power of knowledge and the power of action reinforce each other.
Narad said, “All these years I believed that the way I was studying and teaching was a definite method of self-study.”
Sanat Kumar replied, “Your studies and teaching activities were only a means of entertaining yourself, of gaining recognition, of finding intellectual satisfaction, and or keeping yourself busy and earning a living. Such studying is mere action. No one can achieve freedom through action alone, neither can knowledge alone give you happiness.
Every failure teaches you that there is no real happiness in the external world. But you doubt that happiness can be found in the inner realm. The fear of losing the worldly happiness keeps you from seeking the internal happiness. Fear and happiness can never coexist. As long as you do not have any direct experience of internal happiness, you must rely on the experience of the sages or the testimony of the scriptures and find the courage to turn the mind inward.
This is called standing on the ground of “Faith”. Faith is the only force that can loosen the fetters of desire and attachment to worldly pleasure. Faith is higher knowledge in its own right. It gives you the courage to turn from the external world and find the truth in the place where all limitations end.”
Narad asked, “In practical terms, how do I begin my search?”
Sanat Kumar answered, “You begin with food. Eating pure food purifies your body. The right food taken in the right quantity at the right time is important for a healthy body.
On a more subtle level, the pranic body, senses, mind, ego and intellect also require their own food.
Breathing clean air, with a regulated balance of left and right nostril breathing nourishes the pranic body.
Maintaining positive thoughts in a cheerful mind provides nutritious food to the mental body.
Constant awareness that anything indicated by “my” and “mine” belong to nature of the world. Anything indicated by “I” belongs to pure consciousness and nourishes the ego. Maintain the awareness that all objects belong to the world and it is a mistake to identify with them. At the same time, remain aware of your true nature of pure existence, consciousness and bliss.
When you purify your external and internal life by purifying the food you provide at every level of your being, your memory becomes sharp and stable and you begin to glimpse the Highest Truth, your Inner Self. As these glimpses become brighter and steadier, your attachment to worldly objects and your desire for pleasure become weaker and thinner. The weaker your attachment and desires, the greater the illumination of your Inner Self. The greater the Light that radiates from within, the brighter you will see yourself within and without.”
