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Chapter 18 • Verse 36
The Yoga of Liberation by Renunciation
MEANING & CONTEXT
Krishna introduces the teaching about the three kinds of happiness. 'Sukhaṁ tv idānīṁ trividhaṁ śṛṇu me bharatarṣabha'—hear (śṛṇu) from Me (me) now (idānīm) about the three kinds (trividham) of happiness (sukham), O best of the Bharatas (bharatarṣabha). 'Abhyāsād ramate yatra duḥkhāntaṁ ca nigacchati'—by practice of which (yatra abhyāsāt) one rejoices (ramate) and reaches (nigacchati) the end of suffering (duḥkhāntam). This sets up the detailed teaching about how happiness is classified according to the three gunas: sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. Understanding this helps you recognize the quality of your happiness and how it leads to or away from the end of suffering. The teaching will show that sattvic happiness, though initially difficult, leads to the end of suffering, while rajasic and tamasic happiness create more suffering.
Explore Human Experiences
How this ancient wisdom applies to your daily life
Key Takeaway
This verse introduces the teaching about the three kinds of happiness (sukhaṁ tv idānīṁ trividhaṁ śṛṇu me), by practice of which one rejoices and reaches the end of suffering (abhyāsād ramate yatra duḥkhāntaṁ ca nigacchati). This classification helps you understand that happiness is not just happiness—it has quality. Your happiness might be sattvic (initially difficult but leads to end of suffering), rajasic (pleasurable but creates more suffering), or tamasic (deluded, creates suffering). Understanding this helps you recognize the quality of your happiness and how it leads to or away from the end of suffering. By practice of sattvic happiness, one rejoices and reaches the end of suffering. This is the path: recognizing quality and choosing sattvic happiness over rajasic and tamasic, which leads to true and lasting happiness.
Personal Reflection
Have you been thinking that happiness is just happiness, without quality distinction? What would change if you understood that happiness is classified by gunas and you can recognize quality and choose sattvic happiness, which leads to the end of suffering?
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