Life is a Sojourn of Bliss
— Akhand Jyoti Sansthan
He who has realized the divinity within himself can thereafter dwell in the world in only one way — full of divine bliss. And what is bliss? It is the state of inner equanimity — the condition of being untouched by agitation or care, absorbed in the serenity of oneness.
Such a state is attained only when we surrender ourselves completely to the Divine Source by whom we are governed — when we learn to walk in His direction and allow His will to keep us unwavering in every circumstance. When we live in harmony with His ordinance, our afflictions and impurities dissolve of their own accord, and life begins to attain its ideal form.
The divine impulse within our conscience then becomes vocal, compelling us toward an ever-ascending course of growth. That is the true miracle. So long as man remains entangled in his worldly problems, the path of the liberation of the soul cannot become visible to him. His life remains deprived of that very light for which he has taken birth.
We must, therefore, learn to behold ourselves beyond all selfish obsessions, attachments, and sensory bondage. This is the journey toward bliss. He who has found bliss no longer wanders in confusion through the world. Our soul longs for perpetual freedom, yet it is we who entangle it within the web of meaningless desires and anxieties.
If we could be awakened, we would realize that every moment is suffused with the same divine joy for which our existence yearns. However, recognizing this joy is possible only when the inner self is awakened and moves consciously along the path of introspection, improvement, and inner illumination.
For this, we must first erase every trace of attachment and impurity within ourselves and take the solemn vow to become entirely self-reliant in spirit. We must find no difficulty in renouncing anything that stands in opposition to the soul, and we must experience an unshakable certainty within ourselves.
One whose vision is illumined by self-awareness can never be overwhelmed by sorrow or confusion. His innate brilliance constantly impels him toward higher evolution, and his life becomes filled with peace and joy. Such a person works in this world only for the expansion of righteousness, as there exists no trace of personal ambitions or selfishness in him. Having attained the summit of bliss, what transaction could he still seek? What could he possibly lack? And how could he remain bound to the fluctuating opinions and values of the world? The completeness of the soul alone is truly dear to him — how, then, could he allow it to go in vain?
We should remember the universal fact that — either the world subdues man or man rises to master over it. If we could learn to transcend the worldly delusions and influences, our minds will remain serene, unwavering, and patient in every situation. For it is essential to have control over our mental and emotional impulses. Once this is achieved, nothing can unsettle us.
Every seeker of pure bliss should awaken his real 'self' fully and allow it to advance toward the majestic splendor of the soul. In this lies the true redemption of life — and in this, too, is lasting pure bliss. Amid all human desires, it is this seed-thought of divine joy that enables life to realize its inherent greatness.
Illustrative Parable: The Mango Tree
Arun lived in a small village where dawn smelled of rain-soaked earth and evenings hummed with crickets. For most of his life, he chased the illusion of more — more wealth, more recognition, more things to fill the quiet emptiness within. Each achievement, however, only deepened the hollow.
One summer, after years in the city, he returned to his childhood home. The house appeared smaller now, its walls faded by time. Yet in the backyard stood the old mango tree his grandfather had planted, steady and generous, its branches heavy with ripened fruit swaying in the warm air.
Arun sat beneath it, the rough bark firm against his back. A mango dropped softly at his feet. He split it open and tasted its flesh — sweet, sun-warmed, and deeply familiar. In that flavor stirred forgotten moments: bare feet on warm soil, his grandfather's laughter, the first scent of rain rising from dust.
For once, his mind neither raced forward nor retreated into regret. He simply was — cool shade on his skin, juice on his fingers, leaves whispering above.
Then the truth arrived without drama: bliss was never hidden in distant ambitions or grand victories. It lived here, in life's quiet pauses — a ripe mango, a sheltering tree, and love untouched by time.
Beneath that tree, Arun understood he had finally arrived — not at a place, but at a way of being.
"Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone… just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." — F. Scott Fitzgerald