Brahmananda

Sri Tandavaraya Swami

Disciple: 

Worshipful Master! How many kinds of ananda (bliss) are there?

Master: 

There are three:

1. Brahmananda (which shines as pure Consciousness, eg, in sleep);

2. Vasanananda (which is present in reminiscence); and

3. Vishayananda (which is the joy of gaining the desired object).

However others say that there are eight kinds of ananda. The above three cover the other five (of the eight). I shall nevertheless tell you all these eight. Hear me.

1. Vishaya sukha - the pleasure of sensual enjoyment;

2. Brahma sukha - the bliss of dreamless sleep;

3. Vasana sukha - the remembrance of the above for a few minutes immediately after waking;

4. Atma sukha - the happiness which ensues on determining that the Self is the dearest of all dear things;

5. Mukhya sukha - the bliss of samadhi when the veil of ignorance is completely lifted;

6. Nija sukha - the contentment which results from indifference;

7. Advitiya sukha - the happiness of holding on to the Self to the exclusion of duality;

8. Vidya sukha - the happiness that results from the enquiry into the Self in accordance with the scriptural texts.

My son! hear me describe their distinguishing characteristics. A man who is always exerting himself in the waking state, seeks rest on the bed, out of sheer exhaustion. Then his mind is well turned inwards and in that state it reflects the image of the bliss of Consciousness which shines by Itself. The pleasure which he then experiences, represents objective pleasure.

The person who, feeling objective pleasure poor because they involve the painful triads, keeps the mind in repose and falls into sleep, like an eagle dropping into its nest, becomes one with the limitless transcendent Being and remains as the blissful Self. This supreme state of Bliss is unrivalled brahmananda.

That the bliss of deep sleep is brahmananda, is the statement of the scriptures. That some persons take elaborate care to provide themselves with downy beds to sleep on, is the fact which supports it. That in that state, all sense of right and wrong, of man or woman, of in or out, is totally lost as at the time of the embrace of the beloved, is the experience which confirms it. So it is brahmananda, sure and certain.