One must realise his Self in order to open the store of unalloyed

“One must realise his Self in order to open the store of unalloyed happiness.” These words of Ramana Maharshi, the sage of Arunachala, are not a mere counsel for meditation, but a call to awaken the sleeping divinity within. They echo like thunder across the ages, reminding the seeker that true joy is not found in the shifting sands of the world, but in the realisation of the Self, that eternal awareness which neither rises nor sets, which witnesses the play of all things without being touched by them. To realise the Self is to pierce through the veils of illusion — the illusions of name, form, and ego — and stand face to face with the Infinite that dwells within one’s own heart.

In this teaching, the word “Self” does not refer to the fleeting personality — the bundle of desires, memories, and fears that we often mistake for who we are. Rather, it points to the Atman, the eternal, luminous consciousness that is the source of all existence. Ramana Maharshi spoke from direct experience, having in his youth dissolved the fear of death by turning inward and asking, “Who am I?” From that inquiry came the revelation that the body may perish, but the Self — pure being, pure awareness — remains untouched, vast as the sky. To realise this truth is to open the store of unalloyed happiness, a joy that does not depend upon circumstance, for it springs from the inexhaustible well of one’s own being.

Consider the story of the emperor Ashoka, who once bathed in the blood of conquest, only to find his heart hollow and cold. After witnessing the suffering his ambition had caused, he turned within and found solace not in kingdoms, but in the peace of the spirit. His transformation from conqueror to compassionate ruler was born of self-realisation — the dawning awareness that no victory over others can equal the victory over one’s own ignorance. From that awakening, he brought forth an age of wisdom and mercy, showing that the light within can transform even the darkest soul into a beacon for humanity.

Happiness sought outside is like chasing the mirage on the desert horizon. The thirsty traveler believes that joy lies in wealth, in praise, in love, or in power — yet each attainment fades, leaving a deeper thirst behind. The store of unalloyed happiness, as Maharshi teaches, lies hidden within, buried beneath layers of self-forgetfulness. Only when a man ceases his outward hunt and turns inward does he find the treasure that was never lost. As the Gita declares, “The wise man finds joy within himself, rests within himself, and is illuminated by the Self.”

The journey to Self-realisation is not one of gaining but of shedding. It is the unlearning of falsehoods — the release of every identity that binds the spirit. Like the sculptor who chips away stone to reveal the form within, the seeker removes ignorance through inquiry, silence, and surrender. When the last veil falls, the Self shines forth, radiant and indivisible. In that moment, the seeker realises that he has never been apart from joy; he himself is that joy without alloy, that bliss which no sorrow can diminish.

This truth is not reserved for sages or mystics. Every heart contains the same light, every being carries the same seed of divine awareness. The modern man, lost amidst the noise of the world, must learn again to listen to the silence within. Meditation, reflection, and self-inquiry are the keys that open the door to the inner storehouse of happiness. Even in the midst of turmoil, a moment of inward stillness can reconnect one to the eternal ground of peace.

The lesson is clear: seek not happiness in the fleeting and the perishable. Turn inward, question deeply, and dwell in the awareness that watches all change yet is itself unchanging. When one abides in that awareness, joy arises — not the joy of gain or loss, but the serene, unalloyed happiness that is the birthright of every soul.

So, dear listener, when the winds of life toss your vessel and the stars seem hidden, anchor yourself in the depths of your own being. Remember Maharshi’s words: the ocean of happiness is not beyond you — you are that ocean. Realise it, and the storm shall trouble you no more.