--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is joy? Joy is nothing but the Self…" description: "\"What is joy? Joy is nothing but the Self. When desires are fulfilled, the mind is stilled. This allows the Self to shine forth and that is what we call..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/lester-levenson-14903_desire_what-is-joy-joy-is-nothing-but-the-self_2386360.jpg" --- # What is joy? Joy is nothing but the Self. When desires are… ![“What is joy? Joy is nothing but the Self. When desires are fulfilled, the mind is stilled. This allows the Self to shine forth and that is what we call joy.” quote by Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/lester-levenson-14903_desire_what-is-joy-joy-is-nothing-but-the-self_2386360.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/lester-levenson-14903_desire_what-is-joy-joy-is-nothing-but-the-self_2386360.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/lester-levenson-14903_desire_what-is-joy-joy-is-nothing-but-the-self_2386360.jpg) > “What is joy? Joy is nothing but the Self. When desires are fulfilled, the mind is stilled. This allows the Self to shine forth and that is what we call joy.” [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Joy arises when desires are satisfied, calming the mind and allowing the true self to emerge. **In simple terms:** Joy is inner peace after desire is met. Key Takeaway Seek fulfillment to experience joy. Themes psychology spirituality self realinner satisfaction mindfulness self-actualization Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - meditation - goal achievement - life satisfaction Key Concepts contentment inner peace self-realization Questions to Reflect On - What desires truly fulfill you? - How can you maintain joy after achieving a goal? A Different Perspective Joy may be fleeting if desires are constantly changing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Forth Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forth-joy-2899683/) [Fulfilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfilled/) [Fulfilled Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfilled-mind-5927849/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Joy Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy-self-1150954/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-desires-530637/) [Shining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) ## Related quotes > [“If you say, ’If those conditions are fulfilled then I will be blissful’, then these conditions are never going to be fulfilled. 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I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/christ-says-give-me-all-i-don-t-want-so-much-of-your-time-and-so-much-3/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“True inner joy is self-created. It does not depend on outer circumstances. A river is flowing in and through you carrying the message of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/true-inner-joy-is-self-created-it-does-not-depend-on-outer/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [Christ says, 'Give me all. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/christ-says-give-me-all-i-don-t-want-so-much-of-your-time-and-so-much-2/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [There is joy in self-forgetfulness. 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It is when all the desires become mild.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/when-is-one-considered-to-be-in-the-awareness-of-one-s-own-self-it-is/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [God's dream still remains unfulfilled. It was not fulfilled 2,000 years ago, or in the home of any religious leader or any American home,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/god-s-dream-still-remains-unfulfilled-it-was-not-fulfilled-2-000/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) > [It was my dream to work with Badshah and Diljit from the Punjabi industry. I had asked for these two wishes from God and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shehnaaz-gill/it-was-my-dream-to-work-with-badshah-and-diljit-from-the-punjabi/) [Shehnaaz Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shehnaaz-gill/) > [Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-us-think-of-education-as-the-means-of-developing-our-greatest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) ## More by Lester Levenson > [The greatest happiness we can give to a mate comes from helping him or her to more understanding of Truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-levenson/the-greatest-happiness-we-can-give-to-a-mate-comes-from-helping-him/) [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) > [Human love is needing the other one. Divine love is giving to the other one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-levenson/human-love-is-needing-the-other-one-divine-love-is-giving-to-the/) [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) > [We can have peace if we let go of wanting to change the past and wanting to control the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-levenson/we-can-have-peace-if-we-let-go-of-wanting-to-change-the-past-and/) [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) > [Feeling sad about anything is holding onto it. 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The only reward is frustration, as it is only by loving that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-levenson/the-facade-is-the-ego-it-is-motivated-by-our-seeking-love-the-only/) [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) > [There's nothing bad; there's just making errors on the way back Home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-levenson/there-s-nothing-bad-there-s-just-making-errors-on-the-way-back-home/) [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) > [Parliaments cannot right the world; but enough individuals feeling love can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-levenson/parliaments-cannot-right-the-world-but-enough-individuals-feeling/) [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) > [If we don't like what's happening to us in the world, all we have to do is change our consciousness - and the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-levenson/if-we-don-t-like-what-s-happening-to-us-in-the-world-all-we-have-to/) [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) > [Every problem is an ego problem. In order to have a problem there has to be an ego-frustration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-levenson/every-problem-is-an-ego-problem-in-order-to-have-a-problem-there-has/) [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) > [You can have anything you want, providing you first let go of wanting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-levenson/you-can-have-anything-you-want-providing-you-first-let-go-of-wanting/) [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) > [The more miserable you get, the less you should look for an escape (socializing, entertainment). Rather, isolate until you see and let go of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-levenson/the-more-miserable-you-get-the-less-you-should-look-for-an-escape/) [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) > [The original state for all Beings is Love. Out troubles are due only to our covering over thus natural state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-levenson/the-original-state-for-all-beings-is-love-out-troubles-are-due-only/) [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) > [Happiness is equal to one's capacity to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-levenson/happiness-is-equal-to-one-s-capacity-to-love/) [Lester Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) [Explore all 45 Lester Levenson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-levenson/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. 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