Eternal bliss or bust - Are Liberation Paths another form of Seeking Perpetual Pleasure?

This is a short post on a topic that deserves a much deeper dive but it's important to simply be clear that most Liberation paradigms are not helping you to transcend the desire for permanent satisfaction, they do not say to renounce looking for/desiring permanent happiness, satisfaction, perfection, pleasure and even endless bliss, they are just saying you're looking for it in the wrong place! That you must shift the search inwards rather than outwards, undying serenity and joy can't be found externally, but inside oneself, beyond conditions (isn't that putting a condition on happiness that it must be unconditional?) so you're guided not to give up perfectionism but to stop seeking perfection in the world around you and lose yourself instead to seeking it within. Ironically, In other words, perfectionism isn't transcended, material perfectionism is replaced with spiritual perfectionism.  That was quite a jolting reality slap in the face for me. 🤯

Here are just a few quotes from two of today's most popular advaita gurus that reflect how the pursuit of perfectionist ideals of uninterrupted pleasure and happiness aren't being transcended or healed, but perpetuated in a new form.

"Happiness is our real nature and we shall never rest until we find it. If you seek real happiness, unassailable and unchangeable, you must leave the world with its pains and pleasures behind you.” - Nisargadatta

"The explorers seek happiness in finding curiosities, discovering new lands and undergoing risks in adventures. They are thrilling. But where is pleasure found? Only within. Pleasure is not to be sought in the external world." - Ramana Maharshi