The experience of Ananda

Maya can never be equated to illusion because at the time of experience, the piece of rope behaves as a snake. But at a later moment with sufficient light, the same person experiences it as a piece of rope. That experience of rope also cannot be discarded. So the snake which we have already experienced is within the frame of experience of a piece of rope. Similarly, the world as it has been experienced by humans with sense organs, motor organs and mind are also within the frame of Brahman. That is why the Upanishads say that Brahman can be experienced in the form of ‘anna’ (matter), ‘prana’ (life elements), ‘mana’ (the subtle forms of matter and life elements having consciousness), ‘vijnana’ (specific knowledge of the self-consciousness) and finally ‘ananda’ (the all inclusive experience of the Bliss). Such an experience of Bliss that excludes nothing but includes everything is ‘Brahman’. Therefore, it can be argued that the state of experience of Brahman includes all diversities and at the same time transcends all such diversities including contradictories such as pain, pleasure etc. Only such a person can liberate himself from the clutches of Maya. The experience of ‘Ananda’ ⃰ (Bliss) is the knowledge that liberates man from the grip of Maya i.e. from the horrible experiences of sorrows, sufferings and uncertainty. But a genuine question arises is that what exactly is the state of ‘Ananada’ and how it can be described and communicated. The Upanishads unanimously adopt a position that “Ananada’ can neither be described by words nor be approached by mind. But at the same time it is a state of experience that can be attained by everyone, if he/she dedicates oneself to such a state of experience. Anything that can be perceived by sense organs can be described by words. Hence we have got a world of descriptions in words. There are certain experiences which cannot be described by words but can be known by mind. The taste of a food item is an example. Because of our limitations to explain a taste, a group of guys eating the same food come out with distinct comments. But the real taste remains in our tongues, may be in the form of taste buds. ‘Ananda’ but is an experience that goes beyond the reach of words and mind. Naturally it must be a state of experience that crosses the limits of our sensory organs and mind. So it is a possibility of experience of something in me and at the same time, I may not be able to explain what it is. Indescribability of a state of experience can never be treated as a logical base for the non-existence of such a state of experience. It is the possibility that leads us to a higher state of experience. Nobody can deny a very simple fact that he or she has not yet experienced even a bit of ‘Ananda’ in his or her life. The possibility of experience of ‘Ananda’ suggests that such an experience can be a perpetual one. But again the question arises that how can I know that somebody experiences ‘Ananada’ or not. He who uses the minimum worldly things is the right person who realises ‘Brahman’. The worldly things include power, wealth, position and fame. One who uses the minimum power, the minimum wealth and even the minimum food is the person who experiences ‘ananda’ (Bliss). In other words, a person who is capable of experiencing ‘ananda’ at the minimum use of worldly things alone can be called as one who has attained ‘ananda’. The next question arises is how can one be able to fix one’s own minimum. It is the habit of the humans to aim at the maximum. That is why we like to get the maximum power, maximum wealth etc. But the unfortunate thing is that nobody would be able to know the maximum because the maximum is limitless. Anything that is limitless is infinite and anything that is infinite cannot at all be known. Naturally, a person who aims at the maximum engages himself to run after something he does not know. In such a position, one cannot be able to enjoy happiness. Therefore, the person who aims at the maximum will always be tied up by sorrows, suffering and miseries of all kinds. What can be known is only the minimum and the minimum has to be fixed by the person concerned. As a prelude to fix the minimum, one has to control oneself. Self-control can be attained only by regulating sense organs and mind. The self-regulation to be practiced by one is an essential step to ensure the minimum use of worldly things. As it has already been seen, man is habitually aiming at the maximum; naturally he will end up in despair. So a person who makes use of the minimum power, minimum wealth and minimum position alone can be called a person who enjoys ‘ananda’. That is why it is said that ‘ananda’ always lies at the minimum and not at the maximum. In order to make use of the minimum, a self-regulated person has to ascertain himself that he cannot go below a particular point.