Hare Krsna, AGTSP.
What is happiness and distress in this material world? Why does it come to a person? Is it only result of past karma? Can we with our endeavours control the happiness and distress that comes upon us or is it fixed during our birth? If the material happiness is only an illusion, then why do we feel it? If person reliazes that he is not this body completely, will he be able to get above the dualities of happiness and pain?
"Any distress (dukha) comes to a person because of his attachment to something." How true is this?
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Hare Krsna
What is happiness and distress in this material world? Why does it come to a person? Is it only result of past karma?
Yes due to past/present karma
Can we with our endeavours control the happiness and distress that comes upon us or is it fixed during our birth?
Some is fixed some is not. It gets complicated the more one studies it.
If the material happiness is only an illusion, then why do we feel it?
Because we are in illusion
If person realizes that he is not this body completely, will he be able to get above the dualities of happiness and pain?
If a person is able to give up the bodily conception of life means both gross and subtle body then Yes one will be above dualities of life.
Any distress (dukha) comes to a person because of his attachment to something." How true is this?
Everything material is temporary, which means it will be destroyed/separated/disappear so naturally will cause distress.
Kindly read 2nd Chapter of Bhagavad Gita As it is. Krishna explains all these and many other aspects lucidly
Hare Krsna
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Chapter 2 - test
Hare Krishna Prabhuji,
What is happiness and distress in this material world?
--These are the two different conditions of an individual's mind
Why does it come to a person?
--A person feels these two emotions when he/she gets attached to material objects(which includes his body at physical level and also at the subtle level, the thoughts in the mind)
Is it only result of past karma?
--It can be the result of past or the present Karma. Not just bodily Karma, consider "Thinking" also as Karma.
Can we with our endeavours control the happiness and distress that comes upon us or is it fixed during our birth?
--Its not fixed during our birth. But the only way to control them is to OBSERVE/BE AWARE of these conditions when they come in our mind, thereby not getting attached to these two temporary emotions.
If the material happiness is only an illusion, then why do we feel it?
--We just feel the sparks of happiness from the worldly objects, but the ever burning fire of happiness, the source is within us. It is the Soul.
If person reliazes that he is not this body completely, will he be able to get above the dualities of happiness and pain?
--Not just the realization at physical body level. Even at the subtle mind level. The person also should realize that he/she is not even the thoughts/mind but the OBSERVER of the thoughts, the one beyond those thoughts, the Soul. By constantly meditating on this awareness, a person can easily go beyond these dualities.
"Any distress (dukha) comes to a person because of his attachment to something." How true is this?
--It is true, completely. When a person is completely attached, without the awareness of who he/she is actually, there are all kinds of emotions running in his mind which take control of him/her(the Soul)
Regards,
Subash