We all know that the lower the evaluation of man, the greater is the power of his senses. On the other hand the more refined the organism, the lesser is the pleasure of the senses, and the more satisfying the joys of the world of thoughts.

There are so to say, mainly three types of man: man-man, animal-man and saint-man. The animal-man lives mostly in his senses. Eating, mating and sleeping would be his principal source of happiness. Everything revolves round his ego. Whilst he may care a bit for the welfare of his nearest kith and kins, the welfare of others is generally no concern of his. On the contrary, he feels envious and miserable at the sight of happy people. He would use deception, threats, violence and go even to the extent of committing odious crimes in order to fulfill his desires, satisfy his senses and placate his ego.

The man-man lives more in his rational nature, more in the world of thoughts than in the body. In fact, it dawns on him that his own wellbeing lies as much in the respect for the rights and privileges of others as in the assertion of his own rights and privileges, though he still cannot avoid indulging in sensuous pleasures. He also starts getting a glimpse of his higher nature and feels, now and the, a sort of a prodding to do some good, either to satisfy his own vanity, or, because he feels a sort of superior joy in the act. He starts realising that there are two ways in life: one of enjoyment and the other of blessedness. Most of the time, however, he unfortunately lives a life of ambivalance. He behaves like the fly that picks its food at one time from filfth and at another from flowers or cakes. Even his good works are often not totally free from vice, know what is good for him and what would lead him to ruin and misery and yet, except on some rare occasions, he would rather suffer the tortures inflicted by his desires, ambitions, greed, anger, vanity and lust than renounce these and befit himself for a life of peace and happiness.

According to the universal testimony of spiritual giants, the saint-man on the other hand would have very quickly realised the evanascent nature of the pleasure of the senses and their backfire propensities. He would not have any doubt that the undisciplined mind, dwelling on objects of desire is the ultimate cause of man’s sufferings. He would very soon have discovered that all attempts at satisfying desires only result in whetting and multiplying them. He therefore would have resolutely and spontaneously decided to conquer his mind and calm it, by steady practice of detachment, renunciation, altruistic service and contemplation. As he would progress in the realm of spirituality, he would experience a corresponding influx of superior joy that would permeate his whole being, a state of bliss compared with which all the pleasures of the senses, or even of the intellect are as if nothing. It would flash on him that "bliss" is the essence of not only his own nature, but also that of one and all and that the means to allow that stream of joy to flow into our lives is by clearing the obstacles of passions, desires, egoism, anger, greed, vanity and attachment. It would be crystal clear to him that the lower self thrives on the ego whereas the higher self finds its fulfillment in the gradual sublimation of desires, in self-effacement, in doing and being good to others, in compassion, and that it rejoices in the all pervasive spirit of holiness. He would have attained that bliss which transcend earthly joys and sorrows, so much so that he would transmute into glory even the most atrocious suffering. We, ordinary mortals can now and then have but a glimpse of that exalted stare, which is enough however to convince us that perennial happiness is the reward of those who will have conquer their lower nature with the help of their higher self.

Should we all lead saintly lives then? The answer depends on he degree of our evolution, the stage of development w have reached. A worm used to feasting on filths would surely die if you insisted to feed it on milk and honey. Lions and tigers have to be fed on the flesh of grass eating animals. On the other hand goats and sheep cannot live on flesh. So, we have to be honest with ourselves and gauge the powers of different contradictory tendencies in us and adjust ourselves accordingly, but we should always bear in mind that there are greater heights to be climbed. Society has evolved various devices to fit in all categories of human beings so that every individual may progress along the line of his own temperament as long as he observes its codes. There is a set of conduct, however, which cannot be countenanced by any civilised society, whatever may be their philosophical justification. Apart from that, society not only tolerated, but even encourages self-aggrandisement. And why should it not? Some people’s happiness, ephemeral though it may be, will always lie in wealth, power and pleasure of the senses to a greater or lesser degree.

People cannot develop spiritually, if their stomach is empty. Material civilisation including luxury is necessary to create work for the populace, in order that they may have the means for decent living, which in turn would in time, attract their minds to higher thoughts. In this context even ego-centric persons, motivated by the lure of wealth, power and pleasure whilst contributing to their own well being, incidentally do good to others also. For the stage of evolution that they will have reached no other form of happiness may be possible or even desirable. They may become phychological cripples, if the amount of self-discipline required of them to lead a saintly life is beyond their capability at a particular point in time.

So, to be happy, we need to be our to ourselves whilst bearing in mind that the potentiality for perfect happiness is in every one but we need to bear in mind, though, that the bud cannot be forced open. It will blossom by itself when the moment is ripe. At any given time, in some, the beastly qualities prevail, in other human qualities, and in a few godly qualities. However, in the great majority of cases, human beings are a blend of all three types in varying degrees, with a corresponding propensity for gradual perfection.

Since it is not possible presently for most of us to live the blissful life of a saint, it is however, in our superior interest to accommodate and sublimate those weaknesses. We cannot completely do away with, thus preparing ourselves for that moment when our nature would have been metamorphosed and attuned to soar high in the sphere of blessedness. We need only put the chemicals together. Time will affect the alchemy. The life of grate saints teach us that if we constantly endeavour to live an integrated life, there will come a time when holy life would be far more appealing to us than the greatey endeavour to live an integrated life, there will come a time when holy life would be far more appealing to us than the greatest pleasure of this world. Unfortunately till we are fully alive to our higher sublime self, we cannot completely deny our lower self. Whatever may be our stage of spiritual evolution, the following advice from Shakespeare, being resplendent with wisdom, do not then be false to any man.