Happiness manifests itself only when the mind is calm
Adi Sankaracharya’s book "Sata Sloki"
The Self (Atman) is changeless and is of the nature of supreme bliss. The non-Self or Maya is just the opposite, ever agitated and miserable.
The mind, which is the limiting adjunct of the Self, takes on the steadiness and bliss of the Self or the agitation and misery of Maya, depending on the circumstance.
When the mind is seized by desire for some object, it remains agitated and the agitation gives rise to misery. When the desired object is attained, the mind becomes calm and steady and then the bliss of the self is experienced. The happiness that comes from sense-objects in this manner continues only as long as the mind remains calm and steady, that is, until the mind is again agitated by some other desire.
The mind, which is the limiting adjunct of the Self, takes on the steadiness and bliss of the Self or the agitation and misery of Maya, depending on the circumstance.
When the mind is seized by desire for some object, it remains agitated and the agitation gives rise to misery. When the desired object is attained, the mind becomes calm and steady and then the bliss of the self is experienced. The happiness that comes from sense-objects in this manner continues only as long as the mind remains calm and steady, that is, until the mind is again agitated by some other desire.
When the mind is calm, it reflects the bliss of the Self clearly, just as the moon is reflected clearly in a pond in which the water is calm and clear. Thus the happiness experienced on the fulfillment of any desire is only the reflection of the bliss of the Self in the mind.
The happiness is really due to the mind becoming temporarily calm, but it is wrongly attributed by us to the attainment of the object of desire. This happiness continues only as long as another desire does not arise and cause fresh agitation of the mind.
The happiness is really due to the mind becoming temporarily calm, but it is wrongly attributed by us to the attainment of the object of desire. This happiness continues only as long as another desire does not arise and cause fresh agitation of the mind.
The happiness arising from physical union lasts only as long as the mind is absorbed in it, that is, only for a very short period. The happiness enjoyed in the state of deep sleep lasts as long as the deep sleep continues.
The happiness in the state of liberation (Jivanmukti) is permanent, because the mind of a Jivanmukta is always calm. It therefore follows that happiness and calmness of mind always go together.
From this it is clear that any happiness experienced at any time is only a particle, or a manifestation, of the eternal bliss of the Self and that this happiness manifests itself only when the mind is calm.