In today’s fast-paced world, it is common to equate success with wealth, social standing, or material comfort. We often find ourselves constantly striving for “more”—a better job, a bigger house, a higher position in society, or greater recognition. However, even after achieving these external markers of success, a lingering emptiness remains. Why is it that despite our best efforts, true and lasting happiness continues to evade us?
Swami Mukundananda, a globally respected teacher of Vedic wisdom, offers an answer that is both profound and liberating. Drawing from the Bhagavad Gita, he explains that we are caught in the illusion of Maya, believing that happiness lies in the external world. In truth, we are simply running in the wrong direction—chasing mirages while turning away from the real source of fulfillment: our spiritual essence and our relationship with the Divine.
The Illusion of Maya: The Never-Ending Chase
Swamiji introduces the concept of Maya—the illusory power of material nature. This illusion convinces us that our discontent will vanish once we reach the next goalpost. But in reality, we find ourselves trapped in a cycle of dissatisfaction. We think, “I’ll be happy once I get promoted,” or “My joy lies in owning a luxurious home,” or “If only my children listened to me, I would find peace.” Yet each time we achieve one goal, the satisfaction is fleeting. A new desire surfaces, and the chase begins again.
This continuous pursuit is not a sign of progress, but of bondage. The idea that happiness lies in future accomplishments or in someone else’s circumstances is the very trap of Maya. We overlook the fact that despite significant progress and success, most people still feel incomplete. Swamiji notes, “All of us are thinking, ‘I am not happy, but I will be in the future.’” That thinking is the delusion itself.
Bhagavad Gita’s Teachings: Action with Wisdom
The Bhagavad Gita speaks directly to this dilemma. Shree Krishna urges Arjun—and by extension, all of us—to engage in our duties without attachment to the results. This is the essence of Karm Yog.
Bhagavad Gita 2.50
योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्
Yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam
“Strive for yog, which is the art of working skillfully in proper consciousness.”
👉 Read verse on Bhagavad Gita website
This verse emphasizes that true yog lies not in renouncing action, but in performing it skillfully and selflessly—without being enslaved by its fruits. This shift in mindset helps cut through the fog of illusion and realigns us with our higher purpose.
Who Is Truly Happy? Ved Vyas's Verdict
"Peace touches only two: the saint immersed in God, and the lunatic lost to the world—both untouched by illusion."
The great sage Ved Vyas, the compiler of the Vedas and author of the Mahabharat, made a profound observation that only two types of people in this world are genuinely happy. First are the God-realized saints who experience bliss from their connection with the Supreme. Their happiness is not dependent on external factors. The second group consists of those who have lost touch with reality—the mentally ill, who are content in their detachment from the world.
This statement is not meant to diminish the struggles of the mentally unwell but rather to contrast the delusion of the average person. The vast majority, despite all achievements and comforts, are not truly happy. This understanding challenges us to re-examine our goals and the direction in which we are heading.
A Story of Misplaced Search: Rabia Basri’s Needle
Swamiji recounts a story of the Sufi saint Rabia Basri, who was seen searching for a lost needle in the street. When asked why she was not looking in her room where it was lost, she said, “Because there is no light in my room; the light is outside.” The people were puzzled—how could she hope to find something in a place it was never lost, just because the lighting was better?
This story is a metaphor for our lives. We too are searching for happiness where it doesn’t exist—outside ourselves, in the material world—just because it appears convenient or attractive. But just as the needle wasn’t lost outside, happiness isn't found in wealth, possessions, or social validation. It lies within. Yet we continue searching in the wrong place, seduced by the brightness of Maya.
The Vedic Measurement of Happiness: A Ladder to Illusion
The Taittiriya Upanishad, part of the Yajur Veda, attempts to quantify happiness in ascending levels. The lowest unit is a perfectly contented, young, healthy, intelligent emperor who rules the whole Earth with supportive subjects. This is one unit of Manushya Anand (human bliss).
From there, the happiness levels rise:
- 100x Manushya Anand = Bliss of Manav Gandharvas (celestial musicians)
- 100x Gandharva Anand = Bliss of Deva Gandharvas
- Then come Pitrilok, Karm Devas, Nitya Devas, Indra, Brihaspati, Prajapatis, and ultimately, Brahm Lok
Despite these escalating degrees of happiness, they all fall within the realm of the material world—and thus, are impermanent.
Bhagavad Gita 8.16
आब्रह्मभुवनाल्लोका: पुनरावर्तिनोऽर्जुन
मामुपेत्य तु कौन्तेय पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते
ā-brahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar āvartino ’rjuna
mām upetya tu kaunteya punar janma na vidyate
“In all the worlds of this material creation, up to the highest abode of Brahma, you will be subject to rebirth, O Arjun. But on attaining My Abode, O son of Kunti, there is no further rebirth.”
👉 Read verse on Bhagavad Gita website
Shree Krishna reminds us that even the highest levels of celestial joy are transient. If such exalted beings are subject to the cycle of rebirth and dissatisfaction, what hope do we have in our limited material pursuits?
The Desert Mirage: Mrig Trishna and the Trap of Desire
The Vedas use a poetic metaphor to describe the futility of material pursuit—Mrig Trishna, the mirage in a desert. A thirsty deer, upon seeing the illusion of water created by the sun’s reflection, runs desperately toward it. The more it runs, the further the mirage retreats, until the deer eventually dies from exhaustion and thirst.
Similarly, humans chase illusions of happiness—money, fame, relationships—only to find that the satisfaction is short-lived. Each desire gives way to a new one. Swamiji illustrates this with a powerful example of people who migrated abroad chasing dreams, only to realize decades later that the glow of success was hollow.
“You came to America, 20 years went by—you must be totally happy?”
“What happy, Swamiji? It’s the same wine in different bottles.”
The essence of life remained unchanged. The illusion simply got new packaging.
Modern-Day Parable: Scooter, Car, and the Driver’s Dilemma
Swamiji narrates the story of a clerk who dreams of owning a scooter and a boss who wishes for a car. Eventually, both achieve their desires. For a short time, life feels complete. But within months, the novelty wears off. The scooter gets punctured, becomes a burden. The car gets stuck in traffic, becomes a nuisance.
Later, the same clerk becomes a car driver for a rich man. Now he’s surrounded by luxury, yet he is again dissatisfied—this time, with the demands and pressures of the job. The cycle repeats.
This example brilliantly captures the impermanence of material happiness. Every time we upgrade our external conditions, we assume we’ll finally be fulfilled. But it’s never enough. Something else always seems missing.
Why Do We Still Run? The Spell of Maya
Even after hearing these truths, we continue running. Why?
Because Maya—the illusory energy of God—is powerful. It makes us believe that happiness lies just one step ahead. That perhaps our friend, boss, or that celebrity is living the dream life. But this too is an illusion.
Swamiji reminds us: Maya comes from “Ma” (not) and “Ya” (what is). It literally means “not what it seems.” The more we chase it, the further away true happiness becomes.
Breaking Free: The Wisdom of the Gita
So how do we escape?
Through spiritual wisdom. The Bhagavad Gita offers a clear path to transcend delusion.
Bhagavad Gita 2.52
यदा ते मोहकलिलं बुद्धिर्व्यतितरिष्यति
तदा गन्तासि निर्वेदं श्रोतव्यस्य श्रुतस्य च
yadā te moha-kalilaṁ buddhir vyatitariṣhyati
tadā gantāsi nirvedaṁ śhrotavyasya śhrutasya cha
“When your intellect crosses the quagmire of delusion, you will then acquire indifference to what has been heard and what is yet to be heard (about enjoyments in this world and the next).”
👉 Read verse on Bhagavad Gita website
This means using our intellect to discern truth from illusion, and redirecting our energy from the world to God. This is the heart of Karm Yog—acting without attachment, with awareness, and with devotion.
The Real Goal: Turning Toward the Divine
If happiness is not found in worldly achievements, where then is it found?
The answer is simple yet profound: In God. Only by turning inward and upward—towards our spiritual nature and our relationship with the Divine—can we access eternal joy. The Bhagavad Gita repeatedly emphasizes detachment from the three modes of nature and striving toward divine realization.
Bhagavad Gita 2.45
त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन
निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान्
trai-guṇya-viṣhayā vedā nistrai-guṇyo bhavārjuna
nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho niryoga-kṣhema ātmavān
“The Vedas deal with the three modes of material nature, O Arjun. Rise above the three modes to a state of pure spiritual consciousness. Freeing yourself from dualities, eternally fixed in Truth, and without concern for material gain and safety, be situated in the self.”
👉 Read verse on Bhagavad Gita website
This is the call to rise above worldly entanglement and embrace the spiritual path.
Your Call to Action: Start Your Journey Today
The message of Swami Mukundananda and the Bhagavad Gita is both timeless and urgent. We must stop chasing mirages and start seeking the eternal.
If this message resonates with you, start your spiritual journey today:
- 📘 Read the Bhagavad Gita every day for clarity, courage, and inner peace.
👉 Explore here - 📺 Subscribe to Swami Mukundananda’s YouTube channel to receive powerful insights and daily inspiration.
👉 Swami Mukundananda Channel - 🔁 Reflect on your goals and ask: Are they bringing you lasting happiness or just momentary highs?
Conclusion: Choose the Right Goal
Your life is precious. Don’t waste it chasing temporary illusions. Set your sights on the eternal. Let your goal be not material accumulation, but spiritual elevation. Let your journey be inward. Let your fulfillment come from God.
Through the lens of the Bhagavad Gita and the voice of Swami Mukundananda, we are reminded that true happiness doesn’t come from what we have—it comes from who we are and who we connect with eternally.