The Connection Between Vedic Meditation and Happiness
A decade ago, I found myself on a frantic quest for a deeper and more enduring form of happiness and connection.
I yearned for happiness that didn’t hinge on fleeting moments like being in a relationship, securing a promotion, or planning a vacation. I craved a happiness that whispered to me gently, assuring me that “Everything is okay. It always has been, and it always will be.” I wanted happiness that didn’t dissipate with the ebb and flow of life’s ups and downs.
The External Pursuit of Happiness
In my career, I had spent over ten years immersed in the high-stakes world of Wall Street. It was a world where the pursuit of happiness was often intertwined with fierce competition and the constant desire to outshine one’s peers.
Merely being grateful for a paycheck wasn’t enough; life satisfaction and happiness were measured by how I stacked up against others in my professional sphere. Achieving a well-deserved promotion didn’t bring lasting contentment; I felt compelled to set my sights on the next leadership role. Even in years of financial success, it wasn’t sufficient; we had to surpass our closest rival.
My external search for happiness tethered my well-being to external accomplishments, creating a cycle of fleeting contentment. As soon as external factors shifted, my happiness vanished, leaving me yearning for more.
The Personal Quest for Fulfillment
My personal life mirrored this external pursuit of happiness. I sought answers to questions like, “Why didn’t things go as planned?” and tirelessly explored solutions for my persistent migraines and anxiety. I embarked on a spiritual journey, probing the origins of happiness and why it eluded me despite my efforts.
I was diligent in my pursuit of happiness, dedicating my free time to reading, retreating, practicing yoga, visiting shamans, engaging in talk therapy, trying acupuncture, and even taking personality tests. I left no stone unturned.
Yet, after a decade of relentless searching, I remained as distant from the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow as ever. I was fatigued from the relentless pursuit of positive emotions and self-improvement, and I longed for respite.
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One day, instead of succumbing to frustration, I channeled my anxiety into a commitment to explore new avenues of being. This marked the beginning of my transformative encounter with Vedic Meditation, and my life has never been the same since.
The Source of Happiness
Today, as a Vedic Meditation teacher with a decade of practice under my belt, I’ve unearthed the profound truth: happiness isn’t merely a destination; it’s the very source and bedrock from which every facet of life unfolds. To nurture happiness as our foundational state, we must embrace tools and techniques like Vedic Meditation.
Vedic Meditation allowed me to transcend the confines of my stressed and anxious state of consciousness. It ushered me into a serene and silent realm within myself. In this stillness, I discovered an expansive consciousness beyond the boundaries of my worries and fears.
Instead of tirelessly striving for happiness, I granted myself permission to relinquish the relentless pursuit of it. As a result, my mind naturally gravitated toward this deep, tranquil space.
Remarkably, this tranquil sanctuary, the realm of pure Being, also serves as the wellspring of all happiness. In a matter of weeks, I felt the weight of decades of worry and anxiety lifting.
Though I hadn’t unraveled all the mysteries of life, I could sense a glimmer of hope. I realized that I could now dip into this silence and emerge with a clear and present mindset to confront life’s challenges. From this heightened state of awareness, I learned how to clear my mind and be happy and my happiness blossomed exponentially.
The Connection Between Health & Happiness: Releasing Stress
During my meditation sessions, as I rested in the depths of Being, I observed my body systematically shedding accumulated stresses. Thom Knoles, my meditation teacher, aptly describes this process: “When you [practice Vedic Meditation], your mind settles down to its least-excited state, and your body rests dramatically deeply. This profound rest allows the body to restore its adaptation energy and release these onboard stresses.”
As the knots of stress unraveled, I found myself becoming less prone to reactive behavior triggered by trivial events. The burdens of “I’m not happy because that thing didn’t make me happy” dissolved, leaving me with a profound awareness of my inner contentment.
Through the consistent cultivation of happiness as my baseline with Vedic Meditation, I gradually shed the shackles of competitive thinking. I became less entangled in the relentless race for supremacy. Life took on a broader purpose with reduced stress, and fulfillment became the backdrop against which I journeyed through life.
Achieving Goals and Happiness
Through direct experience, I now understand that the purpose of life extends beyond checking off achievements on a list. Our role is to ardently expand our happiness, regardless of our position on the path or our emotional state at any given moment.
I don’t suggest we abandon our endeavors altogether. Setting goals and achieving them are vital components of living our best lives. However, our journey should commence with happiness as our guiding light.
How Vedic Meditation Unlocks Happiness
Vedic Meditation is a timeless mental technique with roots dating back thousands of years. It isn’t a “happiness” technique in the traditional sense. It doesn’t focus on specific outcomes, as some manifestation techniques do. Instead, Vedic Meditation paves the way for the body to revert to its innate state of happiness by granting profound rest to the mind and body.
When the mind and body experience deep relaxation, we return to our birthright of bliss and equilibrium. This natural approach allows us to swiftly and effortlessly attain sustained happiness.
Rather than setting intentions for happiness, a Vedic Meditator simply closes their eyes for twenty minutes twice a day. This practice grants the body the opportunity to heal, rejuvenate, and shed accumulated stresses. As these stresses dissipate, the potential for baseline bliss to flourish emerges. Our inner creative intelligence begins to shine.
With a fortified foundation of happiness, relationships flourish, self-assurance blossoms, and performance in all aspects of life reaches new heights.
The Neuroscience of Happiness
Vedic Meditation balances the intricate relationship between our inner world and our body’s chemistry, all in a way that’s harmonizing and supportive of our sustained happiness. Our brain is often seen as a thinking machine, but it’s much more than that. It’s like the conductor of a vast orchestra, directing a hundred billion neurons that extend beyond our skull, down our spine, and throughout our body.
When we think or feel something, like happiness or anger, our brain quickly translates these thoughts into chemicals. If you’re having a bad day, your brain tells your body to feel down, and the same goes for other emotions. That’s where Vedic Meditation comes in.
As we meditate, we let go of the everyday stresses and thoughts that usually occupy our minds. We focus on a special sound or mantra that guides us to a place of deep, serene consciousness. This state, often called “Ananda” in ancient texts, isn’t about wild excitement. It’s a profound sense of inner peace and contentment.
The exciting part is that this tranquility isn’t limited to our thoughts; it spreads to our whole body. Our brain, with the help of our nervous system, starts to create a unique blend of “bliss chemicals” like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. These chemicals permeate our cells, bathing us in a sense of deep satisfaction and replacing stress chemistry.
After a meditation session, you’re like an arrow drawn back on a bowstring, peaceful yet brimming with confidence. Vedic Meditation taps into your full potential, making it easier to tackle life’s challenges successfully. It’s a way to generate your own inner happiness chemistry, transforming your daily life with contentment and ease.
Happiness and Connection is an Inside Job
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi wisely said, “The purpose of life is the expansion of happiness.” It’s not only okay to seek out happiness; it’s a natural inclination ingrained in our being. The pursuit of ever-deepening states of happiness is, in essence, the purpose of life itself.
Happiness is our birthright.
Our waking hours are a continuous interaction with colleagues, loved ones, and the demands of daily life. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that external stimuli dictate our happiness. However, the truth is this: our happiness is always an inside job.
Our state of consciousness governs every reaction and interaction with the world, the people around us, and the circumstances we encounter. What we believe to be external experiences are, in reality, internal manifestations of our consciousness state.
Once we internalize this fundamental truth, we cease to rely on the world conforming to our expectations to secure our happiness. Instead, we seize control of our own happiness.
This realization was a pivotal “aha!” moment in my journey because once it clicked, there was no turning back. I set aside my small, melancholic violin and embarked on the pursuit of that unchanging wellspring of happiness deep within me.
As I stopped assigning blame to the external world and honed my consciousness through Vedic Meditation, every facet of life experienced a remarkable transformation.
Reflecting on the past ten years, I cherish the wisdom I’ve gained and the stillness and peace I’ve discovered within myself. I feel blessed to be able to share this tranquility and insight with anyone eager to explore this transformative practice.
Discover Happiness and Connection With Vedic Meditation
If you’re ready to embark on a journey toward a new kind of happiness, much like mine, I invite you to reach out. Let’s embark on this journey together and illuminate your inner light.
If you’re caught in the relentless pursuit of goal setting and happiness, consider joining me for a free Introductory Talk on how Vedic Meditation can guide you and be a key to lifelong happiness.
