Pravritti & Nivritti

The result of ignorance (agyana) is action (pravritti). Ego motivated actions due to avidya are called pravritti.
The result of knowledge (jnana) is freedom from actions (nivritti).

Ignorance at intellectual level is desire; at mental level is thoughts and at physical level it is actions(ego driven)

Hari Om

Happiness vs Bliss

Namaste.  In our sayings and writings, we seem to mix the usage of the words 'happiness', 'joy' and 'bliss'  interchangeably to indicate similar meanings.  Though in a normal situation, this may be correct, there are subtle differences in the meanings.

The mental pleasures and satisfaction attained due to achievement of a sensory activity through the BMI layers is called Happiness.  For example, we are happy for getting an object of our liking or a reward or recognition from our contacts.   It is a state of less or no agitation of mind and the scale moves to the positive side of the mental state.

When  a situation that goes beyond our bodily and mental levels and provides us a positive  satisfaction intellectually, it is Joy.  Example - when you propose and devise a creative idea and it is implemented and found very productive,  you feel a joy that is unexplainable, though physically & mentally you may have gone through many turbulences to bring that idea to fruition.

When the mind attains a state of equilibrium where there are no specific reactions to the situations externally - when all 'raga dveshas' have ended, it is called bliss.
Sw. Chinmayananda says in verse 420 of Viveka Choodamani:  "When there is the experience of Self within, there is peace - the peace that passeth all understanding".  This peace is not because of any objects outside, but because of the very essential nature of the Self in us.   This is Bliss.

Hari Om

Sleep vs Samadhi

In Viveka Choodamani verse 408,  Bhagwan Adi Shankara talks about the root of the universe being the mind and dissolving the mind is the only option to avoid the pluralism of outside world.  Sw. Chinmayananda wonderfully explains it as below  

"The mind turned outwards and gushing out is chitta. The manifestation of the world is from chitta only. If you want pure bliss and beatitude of Brahman,  you have to end this world. In order to do so,  quieten the mind in the contemplation of the supreme self which is your inner most core. Sit down and consciously withdraw your mind as though in sleep and experience that stage where there is no object , emotion or thoughts.   That conscious sleep is called Samadhi.   

In real sleep, there is no perception of the outer world, and hence no mis-apprehension, there is nevertheless a binding non-apprehension.  When you consciously sleep, there is no bon-apprehension either , only a complete apprehension of Reality.     

Wow.  Excellent analysis from Gurudev.

Hari Om.