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Can Calm And Electric Joy Coexist In The Same Person?

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by Rihana, Jun 13, 2025.

  1. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    General request to everyone reading or replying:
    Please take a moment to read through the earlier responses. At this point, I think the main question of this thread has been clearly laid out. The topics of peace and calmness of mind are deep and meaningful ones that many of us enjoy discussing. That said, I’d really appreciate it if we could try to stay focused on the specific question I raised: after one has achieved the ability to be at peace amid hardship, might that same ability also quiet or lessen the intensity of life’s greatest joys?

    Thanks for all the thoughtful engagement so far!
     
  2. Viswamitra

    Viswamitra IL Hall of Fame

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    @Rihana,

    I am sorry that you feel I didn't address your question. I find it hard to verbalize and clarify how I answered your question as I am limited by my verbal skills. My conclusion is achieving bliss and peace are not mutually exclusive to each other and true joy is embedded in peace. I don’t know whether judgment from the point of view of emotions is the answer to the question. I will leave it at that and it is best if I don't enage in this thread further.

    Subsequent note after reading your latest post: I am glad you have answers from @SGBV and @gamma50g.
     
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2025
  3. HariLakhera

    HariLakhera IL Hall of Fame

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    I am of the view that once one has achieved the state of peace of mind, nothing matters. The question may be, is it possible to achieve the "Peace of Mind," considering the fact that controlling the mind is difficult, if not impossible?
    When we say Peace of Mind, we mean do your Karma selflessly.
     
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  4. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    If you’re feeling unsure about why your response didn’t quite land, you might consider putting both my question and your answer into ChatGPT and asking why the original poster might have felt it wasn’t addressed. You can use your longer first response or the shorter second one (My conclusion is ....) ChatGPT could offer some helpful perspective. Frankly, I’ve found it useful myself at times.

    Whatever you decide, thanks for responding.
     
  5. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    That’s definitely possible. When someone reaches a state of total peace, calm, and neutrality, the way they experience joy or sadness might not matter at all. Maybe the idea of "does it lessen the intensity of joy" doesn’t really apply to those who’ve fully reached that state. It may be more like a question for regular people who are still on their way there.
    That’s another deep question, especially when we’re already wrestling with one here. :grinning: Personally, I see "peace of mind" as an ongoing journey rather than a final destination. Honestly, the idea of reaching an ultimate state of peace feels a bit unsettling and almost a little scary. I’d prefer to be progressively getting more calm than before, but always remain in maybe the top 10 percentile of calm people in a crowd, and not the top 1%, so it still feels natural. I don’t want to become a stranger to myself.
     
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  6. HariLakhera

    HariLakhera IL Hall of Fame

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    I read a few pages of Gita every day in the morning for the last 40 years. I have tried to reach a state of zero but failed miserably. One way of doing it is to read aloud. That is the reason we do Keertan around and with hands clapping to stop mind wavering.
    Nice to discuss the subject.
     
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  7. Srama

    Srama Finest Post Winner

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    Dear @Rihana,

    I am using this post for my response :)

    A state of being a 'sthithaprajna' allows us to take both joy and sorrow with equanimity, but as you and I know, it is not easy to attain that. I do not know if the intensity of joy lessens, but certainly our response to joy might have changed. I think it was @gamma50g who mentioned that the intensity could show as gratitude, and in my case, even more prayers for further guidance. Our perception of looking at things certainly changes, and we might find joy in seeing the joy on our loved ones' faces. I would say a different kind of (intense) joy.

    On a spiritual path, what next certainly arises - between the constant see-saw of pain and pleasure.
     
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  8. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    True. For most of us regular mortals, I think we can only hope to be moving towards that state with occasional detours and getting back to track as soon as we realize.

    We seem to have almost a consensus on this - our response to joy changes, evolves or transforms.

    Yes, gamma mentioned that. I see that as the net total intensity etc of feelings remains the same, they just redistribute into a state of more equanimity.
    This gets close to where I wonder/worry a bit. The achievements of the loved ones, in particular the children, also evoke a different set of reactions. When a similar achievement by a different child evokes a different kind of joy due to being further along in the journey towards equanimity, I feel a bit guilty.
     
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