analysis of ananda

[Guest guest]

Taittiriya Upanisad Part Two is called Brahmavalli. The eighth chapter of

Brahmavalli offers an analysis of ananda, bliss.

 

It is said that a full measure of human bliss is experienced by a young,

strong, learned man who owns all the wealth of the world. But greater than

such a man is a Gandharva of the earthly realm. The happiness of the earthly

Gandharva is a hundred times the full measure of human happiness. Such

happiness is also attained by the man who knows all the Vedas and is free

from desire. Superior to the Gandharva of this earthly region is the

Gandharva of the world above Earth. He enjoys happiness a hundred times

greater than the earthly Gandharva. His bliss is known by a man who knows

all the Vedas and is free from desire. Higher than the Gandharvas of the

upper world are the forefathers; their bliss is a hundred times greater.

Such bliss is tasted by the man who knows the Vedas and is free from desire.

Above the forefathers are the demigods who achieved their status by good

birth. Their bliss is a hundred times greater than that of the forefathers.

A man who knows all the Vedas and is free from desire attains this bliss

also. Above those born into demigod families are those who achieved demigod

status by performance of sacrifice. A hundred times greater is the bliss

they enjoy. A man who knows all the Vedas and is free of desire is

established in that bliss. Higher yet are the natural demigods whose

happiness is a hundred times more; it too is tasted by the man who knows all

the Vedas and is free of desire. The bliss of Indra is a hundred times more

than that, but still a man who knows all the Vedas and is free of desire

enjoys the same bliss. A hundred times increased is the bliss of Brhaspati.

A man who knows all the Vedas and is free of desire tastes Brhaspati's bliss

as well. Prajapati's bliss--and the bliss of a man who knows all the Vedas

and is free of desire--is greater by a hundred times. The bliss that Brahman

enjoys is a hundred times more than that of Prajapati. This bliss is

relished by the man who knows all the Vedas and is free of desire.

 

One who knows the bliss of Brahman is never afraid, Chapter Nine of

Brahmavalli declares. He does not agonize by thinking, "Why did I not do the

right thing? Why did I do the wrong thing?" His achievement of the liberated

state is understood by his freedom from these two thoughts. This is the

hidden teaching of the Upanisad.

 

But:

 

tvat-saksatkaranahlada-

visuddhabdhi-sthitasya me

sukhani gospadayante

brahmany api jagad-guro

 

My dear Lord, O master of the universe, since I have directly seen You, my

transcendental bliss has taken the shape of a great ocean. Being situated in

that ocean, I now realize all other so-called happiness to be like the water

contained in the hoofprint of a calf. (Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 14.36)

 

krsna-name ye ananda-sindhu-asvadana

brahmananda tara age khatodaka-sama

 

Compared to the ocean of transcendental bliss which is tasted by chanting

the Hare Krsna mantra, the pleasure derived from impersonal Brahman

realization [brahmananda] is like the shallow water in a canal. (Sri

Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 7.97)

 

(from HH Suhotra Swami's weblog)

[Guest guest]

achintya, "Bhakti Vikasa Swami"

<Bhakti.Vikasa.Swami@p...> wrote:

> Taittiriya Upanisad Part Two is called Brahmavalli. The eighth

chapter of

> Brahmavalli offers an analysis of ananda, bliss.

 

Brahman realization taught in this valli of taittirya is not

realization of impersonal Brahman. Hence there is no need to quote at

the end verses from Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya and CC which talk about how

superior is bliss of realizing Bhagavan in compared to impersonal

brahman ananda.

 

Please consult preceding verses in Taittiriya which only describes

Purushottama - Supreme Personal Being - Sri Bhagavan.

 

In the beginning of this valli Brahman is described:

 

II-i-1: The knower of Brahman attains the highest. Here is a verse

uttering that very fact: "Brahman is truth, knowledge, and

infinite...."

 

This is not a description of "nirvisesa brahma svarupam". Check

Vedaanta Sutra based on this. This is the brahman to be attined,

realized, etc.. and is described in Taittirya Up.

 

 

 

Your Servant Always,

Sumeet.