To undertake the inward spiritual journey—the gradual journey up the Tree of Life—is to progressively destroy all that in one’s life which is not in alignment with the True Will of Humanity (which resides in Chokmah-2). This process can degrade and destroy, not only creature comforts, but even basic needs of any kind. Thus, the spiritual journey bears no essential resemblance to the quest for personal happiness. Although it can occasion laughter and fun, it can just as easily evoke extreme suffering.
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Despite the heavenly highs and savage lows one experiences upon the quest to Free humanity from dogma, ignorance, and slavery, there is always joy! Joy is not happiness. It is “that which remains” after any change (L, II:9). Simply, Joy is that which persists no matter what else is happening:
“[E]xistence is pure joy; that all the sorrows are but as shadows; they pass & are done…” (L, II:9).
However, not all can experience it. Joy is the eternal bliss (Ananda) of union with the Godhead, and true mystics experience it tangibly and often. Hence, Hadit says, “They shall rejoice, our chosen: who sorroweth is not of us” (L, II:19).
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Joy is not happiness. While happiness depends on conditions, Joy is the basis of all life experience, even the worst traumas and deprivations. The metaphysical ecstasy known as Joy results from the dissolution of duality (L, I:30), a movement that characterizes all change or “happening” whatsoever.