When this jivatma is separated from paramatma he has found an important part called "Ananda" remaining dormant. This aunsa of paramatma disappeared completely from the surface. It is observed that when a person is lacking in something he will make a tremendous effort to find that. Since Ananda disappeared, man began to make effort to find it in all his pursuits. We eat for joy. We drink for joy. We purchase good clothes and jewellery to find some kind of delight in possessing them. In every action there is an indirect quest for joy. It is obvious that we do not do any work with an intention of bringing sorrow on ourselves. Our actions are directed in search of joy and happiness. But in reality we do not find happiness in the form we search for it.
May be the joy you get or the moments of happiness you feel do not last for long. You may pass through a wave of it. You may have a fleeting glimpse of it. We may even dance in those moments of ecstacy (joy). But is this the true anands. Because true ananda when once achieved can never be lost. It is permanent.
We eat a sweet dish. We feel we have enjoyed it greatly. But the moment you begin to feel uneasiness in stomach you will begin to be sorrowful. At the time you get a son you will feel the joy passing through you. But if the son grows a thorn in the side then all the joy begins to evaporate. Sri Mahaprabhuji has coined a word for these kinds of enjoyments : viz., visayananda. It means joy or happiness sensed through the indriyas (sense organs). Where the pleasures are meant to satiate the senses (visaya sukha) and the ananda gained through senses is called "Visayananda". It is a kind of thirst which cannot be satisfied. The more you go for it the more it will demand it.
Hence Sri Mahaprabhuji tells us : "There is no true enjoyment in the world. Hence sensible people should not follow Visayananda. It is like a golden stag". It never existed. If you run after it you will never reach paramatma. The end is only sorrow.
In this connection Sri Mahaprabhuji wants to tell what true ananda is. The true ananda can be found only in Parabrahma. i.e., in our Lord. This ananda is permanent. It is full. It never ends or spends itself. You take as much ananda you want out of it. But it never decreases. Hence Sri Mahaprabhuji expalins : Man pursues ananda. But instead of running after worldly visayananda, he should run after our prabhu's "Swarupananda". Then only he can find true and complete ananda.
Bhakti Marg is the only means through which a person can attain true and compelte ananda of Sri Prabhu. It is also known as sneha marg. Even in worldly practice we do not hesitate to offer everything we have to the person for whom we have great love. in a similar way when a jivatma surrenders everything in true love for Prabhu, the latter also will shower HIS compassion by granting the complete ananda to HIS devotees with great generosity |
