Just Listen

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

April 4, 1981

Q: Is a Self-realized person always in a state of bliss?

M: One who has transcended the body idea does not need the ananda (bliss). When you didn't have experience of the body, you were in that blissful state. That state which is prior to your birth cannot be described as deep sleep, it is beyond that. The experience of the jnani is the same as your state prior to birth, it is a complete state.

Q: How can I be That?

M: You are in that state all the time, prior to having the body, but you are confused because of the body consciousnesses.

Q: The body is there.

M: Don't ask questions, just listen. You need the company of the Sages to understand what I am saying. This knowledge cannot be understood by the intellect.

Q: Is there sat-chit-ananda in the eternal state?

M: The food essence is sattva, and the quality of that is consciousness, and inside that is the sat-chit-ananda (being-consciousness-bliss). The eternal state is prior to that.

Q: I have read in the books that the main reason to be born is your own desire to be born; how can it fit in with the state before birth?

M: Your birth is the result of the desire of your parents.

Q: How can I be released from bondage?

M: There is no bondage at all, bondage is imaginary. If you are oriented towards the consciousness all your questions will be dissolved by your Self.

Q: What is the obstacle to my realizing this?

M: The only bondage is your constant memory that you are the body.

Q: Without understanding fully what Maharaj is, still people come here. Why is that?

M: That is the union of knowledge and that principle which transcends knowledge. There is attraction between these two. That is why people from all over the world come here.

I am intangible, you cannot add to me or take away from me. I am full, complete in all respects. Whatever you do to me, you will have to suffer yourself. If you are angry with me, you have to suffer. If you do anything to me, it will rebound upon you. If you spit at the sky, the spit will fall on you only.

Q: What is the material world created from?

M: Out of the manifest consicousness, the material world is created  - the eternal parabrahman, the eternal brahman, in which this play is always going on. In that play you are the total, no separate identity arises. In the body is the taste of I AM - when the body is gone, the taste is gone. When you have some problem you refer to a book. Why don't you investigate yourself - find out what you are. I this play of the five elements, whatever is seen or experienced is merely enjoyment, and for this enjoyment, or entertainment, mind is very necessary.

Q: What are Brahma, Vishnu and the other Gods?

M: They are merely appearances in consciousness. Each appearance has its own duration. That duration may be for millions of years, but they are all appearances and have an allotted span of existence. The knower of the knowledge is not affected in any way by the individual hopes, fears etc.