Passage 4

Three Phases Of Enjoying Happiness

There are three phases in the act of securing a desired object and enjoying happiness out of it. They are Priyam, Modam and Pramodam. Priyam is the desire to experience happiness from a particular object. Modam is the initial satisfaction derived from getting the desired object. Pramodam is the experience of Ananda or happiness out of the object. It is not enough if you get the object which you desired to have, but you should experience the joy of using it. For example, you like to taste a mango fruit. The first phase is to buy it, the second is to hold it in hand (possessing it) and the third phase is to eat it. It is only while eating the mango that you derive the fulfilment of your desire. It is also described in the Bhagavad Gita as Jnatum (knowing), Drashtum (seeing) and Praveshtum (experiencing).