MIND : ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL : 21.7

Chapter-21. Desires -7

7. Satisfaction Of Desire Yields Illusory Happiness Only

Desire excites the mind and senses.

When desire is gratified by enjoyment of the objects of desire, satisfaction (Tripti) comes in temporarily.

Rapture is delight in the attainment of the desired object.

Bliss is the enjoyment of the taste of what is attained.

Where rapture is there is bliss; but where bliss is there is not, quite of necessity, rapture.

Rapture is like a weary traveller who hears or sees water or a shady wood.

Bliss is the enjoying of the water or entering the forest shade.


When there is desire, then alone is there pleasure.

The cause for pleasure is desire.

When there is no desire, there cannot be any pleasure.

When there is no hunger, delicious food can give you no pleasure.

When there is no thirst, any refreshing beverage will have no effect. So, hunger is the best sauce.

The first cup of hot milk gives pleasure.

The second cup induces disgust.

After the enjoyment is over, Tripti comes.

Hence, disgust arises when the second cup is taken.

There is no real pleasure in milk.

The happiness is in Atman only.

It is reflected in the object (milk) owing to ignorance, owing to Bhranti (illusion).

It is Bhranti-Sukha.

If there were real happiness in milk, it should induce pleasure always and in every person.

It is not the case.


A desire arises in the mind.

There is a Vritti now.

This Vritti agitates your mind till you get satisfaction through enjoyment of the desired object.

There is Santi or peace or happiness after the enjoyment is over.

Another desire arises in the mind.

Now, in the interval between the gratification of one desire and the manifestation of another, there is pure bliss, because there is no mind then.

It is at rest.

You are in union with Brahman.

That state of pure bliss between two desires is Brahman.

If you can prolong that period of bliss through Sadhana by keeping up the idea of Brahman and by not allowing another Vritti or desire to crop up, you will be in Samadhi.

The period between one Vritti and another Vritti is the real Sandhi (juncture).

Next : 8. Desires Are Insatiable

Swami Sivananda
To be continued  ....