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Our Real Divine Nature Alone Is The Storehouse Of Lasting Bliss

Desires are not quenched by enjoyment. So if we are looking for permanent bliss then the storehouse of lasting bliss is our real divine nature.

There is a story in the Srimad Bhagavata Purana of a king by name Yayati. He incurred the wrath of Shukra, the preceptor of demons. Shukra cursed him to become old forthwith. With his desire for enjoyment not sated yet, the king was naturally mortified, and asked Shukra how he could get back his youth. Shukra told him that would be possible if a young man exchanged his youth for the king’s old age. The king asked his eldest son if he would exchange his youth for his old age. The son declined saying that he had his own life of enjoyment before him. The second, third and fourth sons too refused to accept the king’s proposal. His last son, the fifth, was young in years but advanced in virtue. He took over his father’s old age on himself with joy. The king once again waxed strong with his youth, and enjoyed pleasures through his five senses and the mind for a thousand years — that is Puranic hyperbole. At the end of it all Yayati said: Never can desire be quenched by enjoying its objects. Like fire fed with ghee it only flames up all the more!’ No statement on desire could be more authentic, because Yayati knew.

Our real, divine nature alone is the repository of lasting bliss. Rightly does the Chandogya Upanishad say – That which is Infinite, is alone bliss. There is no bliss in the finite. The Infinite alone is bliss. One should desire to know That alone. And the Infinite refers to our real nature, the Atman, Sat-cit-ananda.