SatChitAnanda - The Nature of Brahman

 

 

 

 

Satchitananda is a compounded sanskrit word consisting of “sat”, “chit”, “ananda” which explains the underlying reality of Brahman. While it seems that Brahman has three different meanings, they are all inseparable and just three different ways to describe the same thing. In other words, sat = chit = Ananda. Each mean the same thing, i.e. sat, chit IS ananda. 

 

Satchitananda corresponds to the nirguna aspect of Brahman, meaning Brahman without attributes. It is limitless conscious existence without any form of objective phenomena attached. All objective phenomena can only be known through the mind (when Brahman's attention attends outward) due to its own conscious power. SatChitAnanda however describes pure existence without any relative knowledge associated with it. Relative knowledge is anything that can be known objectively, i.e. anything that can be comprehended as something separate from itself. Without relative knowledge, SatChitAnanda abides in its own glory as itself without anything else to be known other than its own unknowable self. This means if it is realized directly AS ITSELF, there is nothing to be known other than itself as pure unknowable existence. It is pure absolute knowledge without conditions and without any form of conceptual understanding of itself. Any form of conceptual understanding can only happen through the mind. Since SatChitAnanda is attribute-less, it cannot be operated as such (i.e. mind), and thus it is beyond any means of comprehension. 

 

SatChitAnanda Breakdown: 

 

SAT = Existence 

 

Existence is anything that IS. Remove any movement, sound, feeling, emotion, thought, meaning and perception that appears to exist and what remains is pure existence. All of these “things” that appear to exist can only be known by virtue of it existing due to existence (sat). Existence is the pure “I” which is not identified with anything other than itself. It is the true subject, i.e. it is the self evident “I”. The one thing you cannot dismiss about reality is the fact that you exist. You cannot question your existence since you asking the question proves existence to be fundamentally real.   

 

CHIT = Consciousness or Awareness (both synonymous)

 

Consciousness or awareness is the illumining factor of everything that exists. It makes knowing possible. It is that which illuminates everything (duality) in itself and is the ultimate cause of everything (even though it always free from it all).  It is the unchanging background that allows changes to be known due to its static and permanent nature. Consciousness is also that which allows space and time to be known. Anything that CAN be known is an emergent phenomena that is ONLY known through consciousness. Chit is also nirvikalpa, i.e. undifferentiated or without conception. It is without thought form and therefore incomprehensible.

 

ANANDA = Bliss 

 

Bliss is unlimited freedom. It is not an emotional state or the act of 'feeling bliss'. It's the abode of being unattached to any type of knowledge that limits it from being free. It is freedom from any state or concept that is conceivable. From our perspective, freedom means being free from body-mind identification and thus free from objective phenomena and suffering. Even Brahmaloka which is “closest” to Nirguna Brahman in terms of subtlety is a form of suffering no matter how much bliss is perceived in that loka/realm. But ANANDA is TRUE bliss, even free from the very perception of bliss. It is infinitely more blissful than any bliss that can be experienced because you are no longer in contact with anything separate from yourself and therefore free in your own eternal self AS YOUR OWN eternal self.

 

Though the self is inconceivable or incomprehensible, it doesn't mean it cannot be known.  It can be known in the form of sakshi/turiya which allows one to rest as the pure presence of Brahman, while witnessing the appearance of the body-mind inside itself through an experience of non-separation.  It is this timeless and dimensionless space that will eventually and automatically allow one to rest in pure SatChitAnanda (i.e. Nirguna) permanently through grace. The pure self abiding as the self is FULL COMPLETE AWARENESS without thinking, analyzing, or comprehending. It is a state of being frozen in the oblivion of eternal ananda and non-suffering.  You cannot know yourself as Brahman while being Nirguna.  You can only remain in your own conscious principle without any knowledge of anything other than remaining as your own eternal and unknowable self.

 

SatChitAnanda is an eternal truth that will always remain the same.  It is the only truth.  While it is eternally the same, the expression it *apparently* provides will always be different. It is eternally realized though many are unconscious of this fact. We only speak of “SatChitAnanda” from the phenomenal world of duality where relative knowledge resides. It is this relative knowledge that allows us to even fathom what the approximation of this truth is and what it really means. But from the absolute’s point of view, there is no such thing as SatChitAnanda. From that perspective, what can be known other than itself? It is unknowable though it can be rested in as itself void of any conceptual understanding. This is the end goal of all illusory forms of existence.

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