The highest happiness

praśāntamanasaṃ hyenaṃ yoginaṃ sukhamuttamamupaiti śāntarajasaṃ brahmabhūtamakalmaṣam

The highest happiness comes to the yogi whose mind is at peace, whose restlessness is stilled, who has become one with Brahman, free of fault.

What it means

Krishna describes the fruit of meditation. When the mind becomes deeply peaceful, when rajas, restlessness, has settled, the yogi becomes one with Brahman, the infinite. And then sukham uttamam, the highest happiness, simply arrives. It's not chased. It comes on its own.

The story

Arjuna wanted happiness and saw none in this war. Krishna points to a happiness that doesn't depend on war or peace outside, but on a mind at rest within.

In your life

Picture the feeling after a long walk in nature, when your thoughts finally quiet and you feel simply, deeply happy. That's a glimpse. Give yourself that quiet once this week.