We live in a world filled with people looking. We scroll through endless feeds, chase professional accolades, and amass possessions while obsessively waiting for that next vacation or relationship that promises this elusive state of happiness. We have been socialized to believe that contentment is a reward to be attained or a destination to be arrived at.
What if the best reward is not outside us, but deep within the peaceful centre of our own soul? Or what if we do not hunt for joy because the well is already full?
This is the oldest and most enduring lesson that comes out of all wisdom traditions: happiness lies within. It finds voice nowhere as lovingly, with authority and clarity, as in the teachings of Lord Krishna.
The Illusion of External Joy
In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna deals with the basic human struggle of identifying with the transient world. On the field of battle in Kurukshetra, he urges Arjuna to turn his eyes away from the agitated world of results and fix them upon the eternal wisdom of the soul.
“Transitory as the shade of a tree or a breeze in the summer season are the pleasures of the world. Yet a man clings to the tree or enjoys the breeze for a moment and then departs and does not return again.”
This means that:
“The pleasures resulting from contact with objects of the senses, O son of Kunti, are actually causes of pain, since they have a beginning and an end.”
When our happiness is dependent upon a career, a promotion, or the approbation of others, we make ourselves spiritual beggars. And when these intrigues change or disappear, our inner world collapses. Krishna’s teachings call for the radical practice of self-reliance: cease to build your house upon the sandy ground of the world.
Finding the Inner Garden
With the practice of Yoga, which literally means union, Krishna offers a guide to rediscovering this inner joy. In perspective, Yoga is the union of the thinking self with the eternal, peaceful self.
The art lies in controlling the mind instead of repressing it. Krishna likens an uncontrolled mind to an insane elephant, powerful in itself, creating chaos wherever it goes. Yet he also teaches that this force can be mastered through detachment and disciplined effort.
The Steady Flame
A profound transformation occurs when the mind is mastered. When it turns inward instead of chasing transient pleasures, the practitioner begins to experience a deep, unwavering happiness independent of circumstances.
This is the state of steady intelligence. Like a lamp in a windless place, the mind no longer flickers with the gusts of desire or disappointment. By tapping into this unending reservoir, we realize that we are not seeking happiness; we are the happiness we have been looking for all along.
The True Path: Action Without Attachment
Krishna further explains that this inner bliss is achieved through Karma Yoga — performing one’s duty without attachment to outcomes.
When happiness comes from within, action naturally aligns with the good of all. One no longer depends on results to validate worth or access joy. The action itself becomes the reward.
This is the ultimate freedom Krishna offers. When the source of happiness is understood to be within, every moment becomes an opportunity for unselfish service and serene living. The world turns into a playing field, not a prison cell. One can engage fully with life, relationships, goals, and creativity, yet remain unruffled by success or failure.
The final lesson of Krishna’s song is deeply empowering: You are the source. Why search for the sun through a small windowpane when you can step into the vastness of your own inner space? The infinite well of happiness has always resided within you.
Image Courtesy: https://www.pexels.com/@prasanthinturi/
If these reflections stirred something within you, share your thoughts in the comments below — your inner voice deserves to be heard.
– Bhawana Sethi
About the Writer
Meet Bhawana Sethi – an educator, poet, and storyteller whose creative spirit shines through everything she does. Based in Bangalore, where she now teaches phonics after more than two decades in Delhi classrooms, Bhawana brings both experience and heart into her work.
Her debut poetry collection, Tapestry of Soulful Stanzas, beautifully explores themes of devotion and love, offering readers a glimpse into her lyrical world. She is also venturing into fiction with her upcoming romantic comedy, The Grammar of Love, a delightful tale that contrasts a methodical literature teacher with a free-spirited art teacher. Alongside this, she is crafting a children’s fiction book, curating thoughtful blogs, and engaging actively in writing community challenges.
Beyond the written word, Bhawana finds joy in the kitchen, where cooking becomes another form of her artistry. You can follow her creative journey on Instagram at @soulful_articulation.
