THE NATURE OF TRUE SELF orATMAN
That "essence" which is
described in the Upanishads is
Brahman, Atman or
the Absolute. It is the source
of all knowledge of the scriptures.
It is the origin or the womb of
everything. It is Existence
Absolute, Knowledge Absolute and Bliss
Absolute. It is indivisible,
all-pervading, independent, eternal and
immortal. It is beyond time, space and causality. It has no beginning or end. It is the indweller
of all beings. It is the witness of the activities of all minds.
Atman is Satchidananda
(Existence-Consciousness-Bliss).
Atman is Sat (eternal Existence). That which exists in the
past, present and future, which has no beginning, middle and end, which is
unchanging, which is not conditioned in time, space and causation, which exists
during Jagrat, Svapna and Sushupti, which is of the nature of one homogeneous
essence (Sada Ekarasa, Sada Ekarupa) is Sat. This is found in Atman. Srutis
emphatically declare: Sat only was prior to the evolution of this
universe.
Atman is Chit (Consciousness). Atman is Chit for it shines by itself unaided by any
other light and illumines the whole universe by its own light.
Atman is Ananda. Ananda is that bliss
which is eternal, uncaused and unexcelled. It is the real nature of Atman. We
experience the bliss of Atman every day in deep sleep. It is not mere absence
of pain that we experience there. It is undoubtedly positive happiness, for we
remember on waking up that we slept happily. This indicates the fact of the
existence of bliss to Atman in that state.
Sat, Chit and Ananda are not three distinct
entities
Satchidananda
(Existence-Consciousness-Bliss) is only a provisional definition of Atman. Sat,
Chit and Ananda are one. Atman is partless and homogeneous. The three
characteristics Sat-Existence, Chit-Consciousness and Ananda-Bliss are not
distinct from one another. They are coeval and coexistent with Atman. Just as
water, Jal, Pani signify one and the same thing, so also Sat-Chit-Ananda
signify the one Atman. Sat is Chit. Sat is Ananda. Chit is Sat. Chit is Ananda.
Ananda is Sat. Ananda is Chit. You cannot split up Sat-Chit-Ananda into three
separate entities, just as you cannot separate light, heat and luminosity from
fire.
Atman is distinct from the five Koshas or sheaths. The five sheaths are Annamaya Kosha
(food-sheath), Pranamaya Kosha (vital sheath), Manomaya Kosha (mental sheath),
Vijnanamaya Kosha (intellect-sheath) and Anandamaya Kosha (blissful sheath).
The Annamaya Kosha
forms the gross body. The Pranamaya,
Manomaya, Vijnanamaya Koshas go to constitute the subtle or astral body or Linga Sarira. The
Anandamaya Kosha forms the causal body
or Karana Sarira. The five Karma Indriyas are contained in the Pranamaya
Kosha. The five Jnana Indriyas are contained in the Manomaya Kosha.
Atman or
consciousness is beyond the body, mind, senses, prana or energy, emotions and
thoughts. Consciousness is unattached, self-existent, self-luminous, ever
present, ever free and blissful. (Atman
Nityananda)
He who has
realised this Sat-Chit-Ananda Atman is a liberated sage. He has nothing more to
learn, has nothing more to do, has nothing more to gain. All his desires are gratified.
He has obtained all worlds. He is freed from the jaws of death. He attains
immortality.