Existence-Knowledge-Bliss

Nasmaste.  Last week I happened to listen to the wonderful podcast of Sw. Sarvapriyananda, the resident Swami of Vedanta Society, NY and in that talk, he exquisitely explains the concept of ‘Sat-Chit-Ananda’ in a new light (for me).  The concept of ‘Sat-Chit-Ananda’ is in other words known as ‘Existence-Consciousness-Bliss’ which represents the Brahman that is the substratum for this cosmos.   All creations are nothing but ‘Maaya’ (mirage) and all have some or all of this tri-principle.  However if we consider and analyze the evolutionary theory along with this Vedantic concept of Sat-Chit-Ananda, we realize the development has been gradual in the ascending order.

It starts with plain Existence (only) in plants and other insentient things.  In animals and other living creatures, we see both Existence and Consciousness where they are aware of their life and try to protect themselves. Finally in the epitome of the evolution which is humans, all the three principles of Existence, Consciousness and Bliss are available.  Man alone has the capacity and ability to attain the bliss of immortal Supreme which is the essence of Brahman. 

Alas most of the humans are not yet reached the maturity level to attain that immortal bliss and are too engrossed on materialistic worlds of BMI.  However as many scientists and our Mahatmas say,  the human evolution is progressing and there will be a generation who are super humans and spiritually enlightened like Buddha and Adi Shankara. 

Hari Om.

Vasanas, Thoughts, Actions

As per the Vedantic theory, all creatures in this cosmos are brought in because of its Vasanas.   These Vasanas  are formed as a result of the past actions.

In case of humans,  it could be the actions from his/her past lives.   Eliminating this Vasanas is the part of the evolution to species of higher maturity with increasing levels of awareness and knowledge about itself.   It takes multiple lifetimes to clean oneself of his/her vasanas.

The Vasanas feeds thoughts into an ego-centric and outgoing mindset (personality) and those thoughts drives actions in the outside world.   It is easier to control the actions by a person than controlling his/her mind.  So the best starting point for brahmacharya (dedicating onself into Brahman) is control of  his/her actions.   Even if there are any fanciful thoughts in the mind, let is pass and just be a witness. Do not get involved in it and abstain from acting on it.  If possible revert the mind flow back to Brahman or a Guru. The thoughts without actions dies a natural death.  When many such thoughts are inactive,  that specific vasana strain will also die.  This is the trick of attaining brahmacharya control.

Sw. Chinmayananda puts it so simply and beautifully in his explanation of verse 445 of Viveka Choodamani as below

“ A sadhak trying to lead a noble way of life should mentally have the presence of his Ideal or his teacher (Guru) always before him so  that his baser tendencies get weaker and he is always inspired to live the Ideal way of life".

Hari Om

Peaks of Vairagya, Bodha and Uparati

In verse 425 of Viveka Choodamani, Bhagwan Shankara touches upon the signs of attaining the peaks in Detachment (vairagya), Knowledge (bodha) and Withdrawl (uparati). These three characteristics are the pointers to a self-realized person. Sw. Chinmayananda explains these three definitions wonderfully as below

Vairagya (detachment) results from absence of desire and thereby the thoughtsin the bosom of a person. When materialistic sense objects no more attract a person and there are no more vasanas, vairagya finds its fulfillment. Annihilation of all Samskaras is the non-manifestation of all vasanas and sankalpas.

The culmination of bodha (knowledge) is the absence of ego. Knowledge leads to expansion of our mind to accommodate the universe as One and realization of Brahman as the one Unique Supreme Power (USP) which is the substratum of all in this cosmos. This helps in transcending the PFT (Perceiver, Feeler, Thinker) outlook and annihilation of the ego.

The renunciation of the PFT and resulting OET (Objects, Emotions, Thoughts) is uparati or complete withdrawl. When all agitations are quiet ended and there is no thought disturbance in the bosom, that is the state of uparati.

When the above three are attained, the person attains complete knowledge of infinite Bliss.

Hari Om.

Pravritti & Nivritti

The result of ignorance (agyana) is action (pravritti). Ego motivated actions due to avidya are called pravritti.
The result of knowledge (jnana) is freedom from actions (nivritti).

Ignorance at intellectual level is desire; at mental level is thoughts and at physical level it is actions(ego driven)

Hari Om

Happiness vs Bliss

Namaste.  In our sayings and writings, we seem to mix the usage of the words 'happiness', 'joy' and 'bliss'  interchangeably to indicate similar meanings.  Though in a normal situation, this may be correct, there are subtle differences in the meanings.

The mental pleasures and satisfaction attained due to achievement of a sensory activity through the BMI layers is called Happiness.  For example, we are happy for getting an object of our liking or a reward or recognition from our contacts.   It is a state of less or no agitation of mind and the scale moves to the positive side of the mental state.

When  a situation that goes beyond our bodily and mental levels and provides us a positive  satisfaction intellectually, it is Joy.  Example - when you propose and devise a creative idea and it is implemented and found very productive,  you feel a joy that is unexplainable, though physically & mentally you may have gone through many turbulences to bring that idea to fruition.

When the mind attains a state of equilibrium where there are no specific reactions to the situations externally - when all 'raga dveshas' have ended, it is called bliss.
Sw. Chinmayananda says in verse 420 of Viveka Choodamani:  "When there is the experience of Self within, there is peace - the peace that passeth all understanding".  This peace is not because of any objects outside, but because of the very essential nature of the Self in us.   This is Bliss.

Hari Om

Sleep vs Samadhi

In Viveka Choodamani verse 408,  Bhagwan Adi Shankara talks about the root of the universe being the mind and dissolving the mind is the only option to avoid the pluralism of outside world.  Sw. Chinmayananda wonderfully explains it as below  

"The mind turned outwards and gushing out is chitta. The manifestation of the world is from chitta only. If you want pure bliss and beatitude of Brahman,  you have to end this world. In order to do so,  quieten the mind in the contemplation of the supreme self which is your inner most core. Sit down and consciously withdraw your mind as though in sleep and experience that stage where there is no object , emotion or thoughts.   That conscious sleep is called Samadhi.   

In real sleep, there is no perception of the outer world, and hence no mis-apprehension, there is nevertheless a binding non-apprehension.  When you consciously sleep, there is no bon-apprehension either , only a complete apprehension of Reality.     

Wow.  Excellent analysis from Gurudev.

Hari Om.