Chasing Bliss — Is Bliss Really Possible? Cusp Of Enlightenment
--
The Problem With Chasing Bliss
Aaahhh… The pursuit of happiness. It is so elusive, yes? Here in America we even have the right to pursue it. The pursuit of happiness isn’t a right in every country, you know. So consider yourself one of the privileged on the planet, even if you don’t have much money or material things. You are still among the privileged in the world because you at least have the opportunity to be in a moment such as this, reading and pondering meaning.
Chasing bliss is a useful thing in the beginning of the spiritual search. It is usually what entices the spiritual seeker to “go on the path” in the first place. The possibility that happiness can be found encourages the personality to look away from illusion. If the personality is satisfied and happy in illusion, there is no reason to look elsewhere for anything. This is why the need to chase bliss can be useful in the beginning, for it alerts you to the idea that there is “something else” in life.
Chasing bliss is what started the path for everyone, in some way or another. Didn’t you start your spiritual search because you were disappointed with your life for some reason and wanted something you didn’t have? Let’s be honest. There was not enough love, not enough security, not enough money, not enough friends, not enough power, not enough happiness, not enough something, right?
THE PROBLEM WITH CHASING BLISS
There is something astray, however, when the spiritual seeker focuses too intently on the pursuit of happiness — the dreadful “chasing bliss” trap. The pursuit of happiness isn’t recognized as a trap. This is where chasing bliss is not useful on the spiritual path and serves rather as a distraction.
Just to be clear, enlightenment is simply knowing who and what you are, God’s consciousness on a journey of self exploration. Enlightenment is not “bliss.” Maybe people think enlightenment is bliss, but it’s not. Enlightenment means “to know” so when do you ever stop knowing more? It’s a journey through life, not a destination. What changes is that you know that, rather than thinking it is something else.
What’s worse is that you actually never get the prize! This is the biggest kicker, the biggest…
