Nihshreyasa (निःश्रेयसम्)
Nihsreyasa (नि:श्रेयस) is the quest for oneself. It is the search of innate spirituality within oneself.
Explanation of Term
Adi Sankaracharya in his commentary on Bhagavad Gita mentions:
dvividho hi vedokto dharmah; pravíttilaksano nivritti-laksanah ca.
jagatah sthiti karanam praninam abhyudaya nishryasa hetuh
Translation: The dharma (धर्म) taught in Vedas is of a two-fold nature, characterized by pravrtti (प्रवृत्ति), which is outward action and nivrtti (निवृत्ति), which is inward contemplation. Dharma (धर्म) brings about even stability of the world, which are meant to ensure the true abhyudaya (अभ्युदय), socio economic welfare and nihsreyasa (नि:श्रेयस), spiritual freedom of all being.
Therefore Sankara emphasises on Praninam saksat abhyudaya-nihsreyasa-hetuh - a philosophy of life which integrates social welfare and spiritual freedom through action and meditation[1].
Udaya (उदय) after abhi means welfare. abhi (अभि) means together, not alone. It is an important prefix added to this particular expression and it adds an important meaning. It means that no socio-economic development can come without cooperative endeavour. There is a need for coordination, team spirit to create a healthy society. If every one fights against the there will be no prosperity. Social peace is absolutely essential, co-operation is essential, teamwork is essential; all that is emphasized by that one word abhi[1].
Swami Rangnathananda says: 'We have to learn how to deal with our neighbours in our villages; let me make peace with them and we shall together improve our villages. Improvement of sanitation, good roads, better housing, and all people properly fed and educated—all these we can achieve only by working together. West has achieved this dimension of Abhyudaya to a large extent; and we can learn from them how to work it out in our country. Many societies have achieved abhyudaya today; and we also can achieve it in India'[1].
For Abhyudaya, we have to bring in three values into our life and work: hard work, efficient work, and co-operative work[1]. Adi Sankara says that this Vedic philosophy with its twofold ideology of pravrtti (प्रवृत्ति), and nivrtti (निवृत्ति), makes for the abhyudaya (अभ्युदय) of men and women on the one side, and and nihsreyasa (नि:श्रेयस), on the other[1]. This is a better definition of welfare state and there is nothing utopian about it[1].