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by Swami Ramakrishnanada Puri, but to …… In the modern world, there are innumerable avenues to enjoy the pleasures of the five senses. Just as there is an information superhighway, there is a “sensation superhighway.” From the most underprivileged to the wealthiest in society, everyone is bent on the pursuit of material pleasures, believing that the gratification of desire is the highest form of happiness the world has to offer. Yet, we all secretly doubt that we will really be able to achieve all our desires and aims. We know that a billionaire may not have loving children, an Olympic gold-medalist may be suffering from mental stress, and a movie star’s marriage may be on the rocks. The truth is that nothing in the external world can provide lasting contentment. Of course, this does not mean that human beings should not pursue worldly happiness. However,while enjoying the pleasures of the world, we should be able to understand their true nature and seek that which will give us permanent happiness as well. The only person who has fulfilled all his or her desires is the one who has transcended identification with the body, mind, and intellect and thus realized his or her true nature as the Universal Self that is present in all beings as pure consciousness. When we have realized—through direct, personal experience — that there is only one “I,” we understand that there is nothing more to gain in all of creation, and we are able to merge in the ocean of bliss that is our real nature and our final home.If, on the other hand, we spend our life in pursuit of the temporary objects of the world, we will miss out on the per-manent bliss of the Self, and in the end we will be without the objects of the world as well — at the time of death if not before. Amma is a living example of a person who has achieved everything there is to achieve. From our present perspective, worldly objects may seem to offer the ultimate happiness in life, et al.
