Question: Do you have an explanation
of “Sat- chit- ananda?”
Answer: “Sat-chit-ananda” is a three-word moral thesis or maxim
which has several philosophical explanations based on Hindu spiritual understanding. In all these interpretations its
cardinal message promises divine contentment and bliss.
Peace, pleasure, and fulfillment in every aspect of life are the objectives one seeks. The
maxim “sat-chit-ananda” is the awareness and consequence of
those pursuits.
The quest
begins with ‘sat,’ the first directive of
the sutra. It means truth or reality. In our thoughts and actions or karmas, an analytic assessment is a requisite
to realize and retrieve truth.
Seeking
truth is an exercise which is influenced by mindset attitudes towards different
issues or situations.
In that maze
of mindset prejudiced sentiments, ‘chit,’
meaning mind, plays the guiding role to establish truth or reality.
‘Chit’ connects with consciousness. The latter is an inward awareness of an external object or fact, and these could include
perceptions, thoughts, and feelings. Consciousness also relates to activities
of mind and senses.
In our simple understanding,
consciousness or ‘chit’ delivers guileless notice reacting to a situation or an
event going to happen or being witnessed or experienced.
In Hindu rationalistic contemplation
“sat’ and ‘chit’ together coordinate to produce the harvest of Ananda or bliss.
In short Sat + Chit = Ananda.
Question: Would
you say “sat-chit-ananda” is a Key
Concept in Vedanta?
Answer: The Vedanta school of
thought in Hinduism is a comprehensive study with philosophies from the Upanishads which are part of the Vedas, the
ancient Hindu texts.
The axiom “Sat-chit-ananda” is one of the key divine approaches in
the Upanishadic collection.
However, the message of
“sat-chit-ananda” finds more rational
residency in the Mimamsa school of
Hinduism. A forerunner to Vedanta, Mimamsa school is a pioneer of Hindu thought of realism.
The concept is based on karma
or action to achieve ‘ananda” or bliss. When
consciousness and realism (truth) work together,
the realization of God begins.
Please note, the God here is
not a personified figurehead. It is blissful,
‘Ananda,’ feeling created by righteous
actions.
-By Promod Puri
progressivehindudialogue.com
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