VERSE 18

Who can disturb a man's happiness, if he can be happy, living in the open halls of temples or under the trees, lying on the bare ground and wrapped in skins, giving up every possession and enjoyment?

"There is no possession so great as non - desire either in this world or in the worlds beyond" sang Tiruvalluvar.

Happiness is an internal state of the mind. It does not reside in an external object or in the physical body. Sri Sankara speaks from experience. This is an assurance to those who grieve caught up in worldly things and is afraid to give them up. There need be no doubting question as to how to give up and about the nature of the pleasure that will follow.

One should not let one's mind be tossed about in quest of desires that bring unhappiness. Sri Sankara says that by no other means can one find the bliss that one can find through renunciation. You must accept this as true when one so great as Sri Sankara declares it. He has experienced the bliss of renunciation and preaches it to others.  

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