What is sat-chit-ananda?

Disciple: 

Lord, who has appeared as my Master in the world! I do not clearly understand the character of Being-Consciousness-Bliss (sat-chit-ananda). What is this sat? What is chit? And what is ananda?

Master: 

sat is that which does not perish at anytime - past, present or future.

chit (consciousness) is that which cognizes the different objects.

ananda (bliss) is the joy arising out of the experience of bliss during the enjoyment of an object of desire.

Disciple: 

O Master who like an elephant in rut, attacks and demolishes the forts of the sheaths, although the mahavakyas in the four Vedas declare 'Thou art sat-chit-ananda' to the indweller in the mortal body, and Masters say 'Thou art brahman', yet how can one experience 'I am sat-chit-ananda'?

Master: 

When it is said that rebirths are the inevitable results of past actions, does it not follow that the person was existent in the past? Again should heaven and hell be the rewards of present actions, does it not follow that he will the rewards of present actions, does it not follow that he will continue to exist in the future? A subtle body (suited to heaven or hell), a celestial body, or a human body which are all the results of illusion, often change and pass away. Always surviving the false body, it is but right to say that he is sat. In the darkness covering deep sleep and night, when there is no sun or lamp, he is unmistakably aware of darkness and objects, so he is chit. He is also ananda because his love never fades for the incomparably beatific Self, for love manifests only for an object of pleasure.

Food, drink and so forth are dear to all alike because pleasure is derived from them. The Self is not likewise a means to beatitude. Should the Self described above be classed along with other means of pleasure, where is the pleasure apart or the enjoyer thereof? Can the Self be two?

Love for sensual pleasure is evident, but the love for the Self remains unrivalled. The love for sensual pleasure undergoes changes whereas the intense love for the Self remains unchanging. Sensual pleasures can be enjoyed or rejected, but who is there to accept or reject the Self? The Self can reject all other pleasures but not reject itself.

It is wrong to imagine that the Self kills itself and gets rid of itself by committing suicide in a burning passion. He who kills the body cannot be the body given up by him. The disgust is for the body and never for the Self. Wealth is much sought after, but a son is dearer than wealth; one's own body is dearer than a son; the senses are dearer than the body; the life-breath is dearer than the senses and the Self is very much dearer than life itself. This Self is the essence and the other three selves - the secondary (viz. the son), the illusory (the body) and the acting ones (the ego) - successively increase in importance.

At the time of one's death, the secondary self, namely the son, who succeeds tot he father's estate, assumes prominence. At the time of nourishment, the illusory self, namely the body, is prominent. When a happy future life is desired, the acting self, i.e., the ego, becomes prominent. But int he state of Liberation, the Self, to wit pure Consciousness is paramount.

Even a tiger becomes a favorite when it is obedient and a son is hated when he thwarts one. In this world, the things like straw which are neither loved nor hated, are treated with indifference. But under no circumstances does the love of the stainless Self diminish for anyone.

Therefore, my son, investigate your true nature which is unbroken Bliss only and realize the Self.