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Pure Soul and its Infinite Treasure - 53
at first, the seeker is not always in the state of complete selfabsorption and infinite happiness. This sequential process unfolds itself when an individual directs one's focus on the timeless and permanent nature of the self. Complete and steadfast focus on such a substance purifies the present perception of the soul and results in experience of the self. The taste of this experience is so alluring, attractive, magical and absorbing that a person develops detachment to all the worldly things, renounces the world to attain infinite happiness and ultimately achieves it. Thus, the source of happiness in the entire universe and in all times is the unflinching faith in the nature of the pure self which is accompanied by self-absorption. This is the essence of the path to emancipation. Any belief contrary to this is the source of all miseries for everybody. There can be no true detachment without abiding faith in the pure self. It is wrong to say that one has abiding faith, meditates on the self and also practices detachment but has not yet experienced such happiness. Mere external austerity without absolute faith and self-absorption does not result in happiness.
Thus, any state of happiness or bliss must have the following six characteristics:
i) It must be something that has never happened before
in our exitsence. It must be so abundant that once achieved, it should stay for ever and never vanish. If it is deserted at any stage, it is not happiness. Feeling of desertion results in unhappiness. Thus, abundance and unvanishing nature of happiness will make happiness
something unique. ii) Happiness should not depend on other objects. If
happiness depends on them, then its experience will
