We have never understood that the so-called
pleasures that we all want to experience and
do experience are very short lived and have a
very high fee. We go for a picnic, struggle to
reach the point, spend money and then hurry
to return - it is not really that pleasurable.
Against that, the pleasure which is long
lasting, deeply meaningful, very satisfying,
is unknown to us.
There are very few individuals who can distinguish between very
gross pleasure and subtle pleasure, pleasure that is of a high order,
and remain in that feeling for a long time and without any damage
being done. Ramakrishna Paramhamsa once went to a circus where
he saw a young girl in a circus feat of walking down a rope without
any help. Ramakrishna was lost into applauding and feeling happy.
His disciples were surprised seeing him charmed by a woman’s body.
It was shameful. Even after the circus he kept on talking about that
young girl, how beautifully she was performing, etc. Later on he
explained that he was applauding the concentration of that woman.
He was very happy to see one who can maintain such a concentration.
As far as the clothes of the girl he was least concerned; others were
concerned about the clothes.
In the
Yogic techniques one is aiming at a realization of the
highest.
Ananda, i.e. the feeling of joy of the highest kind, is the
technique where the mind is put into that state where it can remain
in a very peaceful, balanced and
Sattvik condition for a long time.
Publisher,
Yoga and Total Health