Happiness Hub #2: When the waves are loud, choose depth
Religion, Harsh learned, is far more than a collection of rituals. It’s a transformative process of
widening one’s perspective and deepening self‑awareness.
“O my goodness! It’s scary!”
Perched on the terrace of a 51‑story skyscraper, a chill coursed through his body as Harsh
gazed downward.
His legs trembled uncontrollably, his hands turned pale, his face drained of color—and his wide
eyes reflected sheer panic. Sweat drenched his frame, and his mind was seized by an
overwhelming tension as he steeled himself to leap off the edge.
“Just a few seconds,
” he muttered to himself,
Harsh, you can do this!”
“and I’ll be forever. Goodbye world! Come on
A sudden voice broke through the silence—
“Hey! Are you heading for a bungee jump without
anchoring your legs?”The unfamiliar tone startled Harsh, snapping him out of his trance. It was midnight; the city
below kept blinking—Uber headlights, a lone siren, the phone screen flashing PAYMENT DUE.
Heart pounding, he turned to face the source. A luminous shadow pierced the darkness,
growing larger and more defined as it approached.
Harsh felt an inexplicable sensation—a blend of poise and positivity—touching him. The
stranger with a magnetic presence, his very aura radiating a soothing, positive energy that
seemed to envelop Harsh.
“Who are you?” Harsh stammered, his voice shaky with lingering fear.
“Relax, buddy,
” the man replied with a warm smile,
chat?”
“why don’t we sit here and have a friendly
He introduced himself as Anand, though friends affectionately called him “Blissking”
—a jovial
figure who seemed to embody happiness itself.
Blissking’s presence lifted Harsh’s spirits, easing the weight on his heart. Grateful for the
interruption, Harsh sat beside this unexpected guide, his mind now open to a new possibility.
“Isn’t it wonderful?” Blissking exclaimed with infectious enthusiasm, his voice cutting through the
night air.
Harsh, however, could only pour out his anguish.
“It’s unbearable for me,
” he confessed, his
heart heavy with worry and anxiety.
“My life is a disaster—fortune has turned against me. I’m
drowning in half a million dollars of debt with moneylenders chasing me day and night. I see no
escape from this trap—I’m a failure, a loser. The shame is eating me alive. I can’t take it
anymore. I just want to end it all.
”
Blissking listened intently, then responded with a thoughtful smile.
“You know, every situation
can be seen from multiple angles. It’s called Anekantavada. Have you heard of it?”Harsh shook his head.
“Consider the ocean - waves rise and fall. The ocean underneath stays
itself. Live at the surface, and every calamity owns you—praise, market swings, due payment
notices. Live from depth and the waves still move, but they don’t disturb you. That’s
Samata—equanimity.
”
“That sounds deep and profound,
” Harsh said with keen eyes searching Blissking’s face.
how do I feel that depth when I can’t pay rent?”
“But
“Let’s start with a common misunderstanding. We often confuse ‘bliss’ with ‘pleasure.
’ Pleasure
is tied to material gains—likes, raises, the new phone, achievements. It’s sweet, but fades. True
bliss, however, lies in the freedom from desires, in an inner peace that transcends the external.
Bliss grows when the grip loosens, i.e., aparigraha. Depth is felt only when you don’t pay heed
to external financial abundance or scarcity.
”
Harsh subdued his eyes.
almost unfamiliar.
”
“The way you easily say it—I can’t feel the ‘inner vibes’? It feels new,“That’s a fair question. There’s an old English saying: ‘That man is richest whose pleasures are
cheapest.
’ True wealth lies in contentment, my friend.
“So dear Harsh,
” Blissking continued, his voice steady,
“financial failure becomes insignificant
when measured against the super‑consciousness you possess. Remember this: you are
invisible at your core, & the bliss you desire too is invisible, & the means to attain it must also be
invisible—an inner awareness, not a material tool. This is a fresh viewpoint, isn’t it?”
Harsh nodded, marveling.
“I’ve never thought of life this way,
” he admitted.
“Life isn’t about chasing something outside,
” Blissking concluded with conviction.
“It’s about
embracing the invisible strength within. Let’s turn our eyes from materialistic desires to finding
the real richness inside.
”
