Self/ *definition* of brahman

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V.M.Sundaram [venkataraman]

Sunday, February 11, 2001 4:06 AM

advaitin

Re: Re: Notes on BSB I-i-2-1E: *definition* of

brahman

 

 

The aatmaa which is yourself, can not be "perceived" in the same way (thru

any indriya

and manas) because your own Self is not an object external to yourself .

Indriya-s are

paraanci khani - externally oriented. So aatmaa cannot be identified by

any ruupa,rasa.

gandha etc .

In the sixth stanza of the nirvaNa shatkam itself Shankara says aham

nir-aakara- ruupah

and goes on to end the stanza with cit-aananda- ruupaH shivoham shivoham !

 

Cit - aananda ( you can add sat also in front) is NOT the FORM of aatmaa

that can be

perceived by the senses. Nor is it an attribute or quality of aatmaa. It

is the very NATURE

of aatmaa. Aatmaa IS cit-aananda. Aatmaa is not being described as

intelligent or happy.

Aatmaa is Intelligence and Happiness.

 

This my understanding. I am open to correction. I shall also be happy if

other sholars

confirm my understanding as correct.

 

Regards.

V.M.Sundaram.

 

It is essentially correct. Sat-Chit-Ananda is the Self-Nature. Perception

takes place through the indriya (senses) and manas (mind) due to it. Sat is

Existence. It means Self-Existence. Existence which does not depend on

anything external to it as there is nothing external to it. Chit means

Knowledge. It means Self-Knowledge. Knowledge whose nature is the Pure

Knowing of It Self without any external medium, there being nothing external

to it. Ananda means Bliss. Ananda means the Pure Bliss here as Self-Bliss

again there being no other medium through which Bliss is experienced.

Sat-Chit-Ananda is One Monolithic Whole. Upon Direct Self Realization, Sages

also add Nityam (Eternal)! Poornum (Whole)! It means the Self is by its

Self-Nature, Eternal and Whole. So from the perspective of the mind five

words are used by Sages as descriptive of the Self.

Sat-Chit-Ananda-Nityam-Poornum. Each one of those descriptors contains

within it essentially all the others.

 

Love to all

Harsha