Guest guest Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 SAI RAM Dear Brothers and Sisters, The scriptures declare that the essential nature of Atma is Existence-Knowledge-Bliss ( Satchidananda) Eternity(Nityata) and Purity(Nirmalata), in the same manner as luminosity is the nature of th Sun, coolness of water and heat of fire. The Sun can not exist without light. So also one can not separate coolness from water. The very nature of water is coolness. And that of fire is heat. Fire can not exist apart from heat. Similarly, the nature of Atma is indicated as existence-knowledge-bliss, eternity and Purity. Satchidananda describes the Atmain in terms of its manifestation through the equipment of the gross, subtle and causal bodies. Through gross body the Atma expresses itself as mere existence (Sat) , through the subtle body as intelligence( Chit) and through the causal body as bliss (Ananada). The entire cosmos is made up of animate and inanimate beings and things. The infinite variety of inanimate things which are spread over not only in this universe but in others as well, merely exist without any life in them. The total inert matter has mere existence ( sat) which is said to be an expression of Atma in the medium of the total Gross bodies. The animate beings in the cosmos are either awake or sleeping. The beings that are awake are the same Atma expressing in the subtle bodies as intelligence( chit). The beings that are asleep enjoy relatively greater peace and bliss. As long as we are awake, our mind remains agitated because of our identification with the changing perceptions, emotions and thoughts. Once we go to sleep all our mental agitations cease and we experience bliss( Ananda) till the sleep lasts. This state of relative bliss in beings asleep is an expression of Atma in the causal bodies. Thus the entire cosmos is nothing but an aspect of Atma expressing itself through the total material bodies as Sat-chit-ananda(existence-knowledge-bliss). The magnitude and splendour of this cosmic expression leaves one spellbound. But this description further suggests something greater, something inconceiveable beyond the frontiers of the infinte expanse of the cosmic perception. That something is the Reality, the Atma. Atma is said to be NITYA(eternal) which indicates that the Atma was existing from the infinite past, is existing at present and will exist in the infinite future. (to be continued) With Loving SAI RAMs, G.Balasubramanian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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