LEGACY OF IGNORANCE

Pure, eternal joy and peace are to be found only in union with the Atman.  Alas, though, our ignorance keeps us from that union. 

Ignorance may be thought of as ignore-ance, where we ignore the Atman for the world of the senses.  What remains is a gray, confused longing for happiness which we keep turning to the external world to satisfy.

But poor substitutes for happiness is all we wind up with, despite our efforts to convince ourselves that the substitutes are valid and genuine.

In place of eternity, we hold on to what is only relatively enduring. 

Instead of purity, we value what is only relatively pure. 

In place of true joy, we cling to what is only temporarily pleasant.

What little satisfaction we have quickly fades, though.  Ignorance has betrayed us, as it always must, once more.

Which is when, turning sadly away, our eyes fall suddenly upon some new object of sense-attachment and desire, whereupon our hopeless search goes on.