Om! Namo Bhagavate Jnananandaya!

H.H Swami Prajnanananda quotes

Whichever we may perceive and whatever we may observe, the spectacle of an endless struggle is brought home unto us in our every-day mundane life. This world, with its countless souls (Individual - Souls) is never seen to stand stationary. The incessant working of the varied forces is quite obvious at each and every phase of the phenomena. Through the incessant working of these varied forces, the universe is always seen as if marching forward with great speed towards some higher and definite end. All throughout, its ceaseless march is marked with great strife and stress, and hence, we prefer to call it "The Great Struggle". Again struggle denotes some ceaseless ardent action, and action in turn indicates some definite purpose of attainment. As such, there must be some definite purpose and motive in the ceaseless struggle of this universe, consisting of countless souls. As a part is never separate from the whole, and always represents the nature and purport of its whole, the same ceaseless struggle is well - nigh noticed in each and every one of these individual souls.

Then, what might be the aim and purpose of this great struggle, so common and natural in both, the individual and the universe at large? If we make a careful study of the nature of this great struggle, is becomes obvious all throughout that the struggle for "Existence", predominates all other aspirations and aims of these countless souls. Everyone of these souls under all circumstance is struggling in all possible measures to achieve this very end, viz. 'Existence'.

Again, the experience of existence can only be possible, provided there is a cognizing consciousness or knowledge. In the absence ofcognizing consciousness, the experience of Existence or any other enjoyment is never proclaimed or authorised. In the absence of the Conscious-Spirit, no individual is yet seen to have lived or experienced life. Hence, "Consciousness" or "Knowledge" is an inseparable accompaniment of "Existence". By that, it naturally follows that the Soul are aiming at and struggling for a state of 'Conscious Existence' or Existence and Knowledge.

But, on further investigation, we come to the understanding that the individual souls not only aspire for a state of 'Conscious Existence', but also for a state of unmixed happiness. They aspire for "Conscious - Existence", so that they can also enjoy happiness. It means, the desire for happiness inseparably attends the desire for "Conscious Existence". No one ever welcomes or aims at sorrow, or a miserable living. Even if misery falls to one's lot due to some ill-luck, he spares no pains to get rid of it in no time.

Thereby, we are to finally conclude that the individual souls always aspire and struggle for a state of "Happy-Conscious-Existence" or in other words, a state of "Existence" inseparable from and coupled with "Knowledge" and "Bliss" i.e. "Existence-Knowledge-Bliss".

But here arises a doubt as to the nature of the existence-knowledge-bliss. Do they aspire for a state of "Existence-Knowledge-Bliss" pertaining to the phenomenal plane or something higher?

It is quite evident that the whole phenomenal existence of diversity is finite and bound by the limitations of time, space and causation, and hence, subject to change and destruction. Hence, it is not permanent and real. As such, any state of existence-knowledge-bliss pertaining to the phenomenal plane is not durable, permanent and real.

On a closer study, we can clearly understand that just as the waters run with great speed towards the infinite ocean, the Souls are speedily marching forward, leaving behind every phenomenal object one after another that they come in contact with, simply for the fact of their being dissatisfied with the same. They never rest contented with any of the objects of every day world. The universe at large, is always seen marching forward and forward in pursuit of some destiny beyond itself, owing to the dissatisfaction of the present self-deficient condition. This very forward march clearly indicates that the goal and aim of universe, nay, of the countless souls, lies in something higher and nobler beyond the phenomenal existence.

Thus it becomes clear that the aspiration of the souls for "existence - knowledge - bliss" is not a limited, ephemeral character, but of an infinite nature. No one on the face of creation, is ever seen satisfied with limited life, limited knowledge, and limited bliss. Consciously or unconsciously, every individual longs and aspires for a state of "Infinite Existence, Infinite Knowledge, and Infinite Bliss." It is this inherent longing for existence-knowledge-bliss of an infinite nature that propels the souls to march forward and forward, leaving behind the finite and ephemeral, phenomenal objects one after another.

"Existence-Knowledge-Bliss" of infinite nature, being unconditioned by time, space and any other cause, can be unchangeable, permanent and as well real. Hence "Infinite-Existence-Knowledge-Bliss" may be as well called 'Real Existence-Knowledge-Bliss'. But here presents the question, whether there exists at all such a thing as "Real Existence-Knowledge-Bliss"?

The widely recognised facts that diversity always pre-supposes unity, and that something can never com out of nothing, verily prove the existence of a changeless, infinite real substratum at the cack of this finite, changing, phenomenal diversity, just as the changeless, unfathomable, undifferentiated extent of water, namely sea, remains in and at the back of the countless fleeting billows. As previously stated the phenomenal diversity being finite, changeable and perishable is only apparent, but not real, and hence maya (మాయ ) - that which is not is "Maya". The possibility of an apparent manifestation of a thing always depends upon the possibility of a really existent thing. Hence the apparent diversity verily proves the existence of a changeless, permanent, real existence as its substratum.

But, the apparent existence and real existence are always opposed to each other in their natures, as darknes to light. While apparent existence is finite, perishable and unreal, Real Existence is always infinite nature, i.e., it always transcends the limitations of time, space and causation. If it were not for this infinite nature, Real Existence can be no more Real Existence. Being Infinite, Real Existence is One and Unity as well. This Infinite Knowledge, and Infinite Bliss. As already stated, Existence-Knowledge-Bliss are always inseparable and shine as one whole, just as redness, heat and lustre, remain inseparable from one and the same fire. Hence the Real Existence is verily the Inseparable Oneness of 'Infinite Existence-Knowledge-Bliss', which the Vedanta prefers to call as the Secondless"SAT-CHIT ANANDA-PARA-BRAHMAN" (సత్-చిత్-ఆనంద -పర - బ్రహ్మన్), the cause of all causes and the Light of all lights.

Thus, the existence of the Real, Infinite, Existence-Knowledge-Bliss-(Sat-Chit-Ananda-Para-Brahman) - the aspired goal of all beings, is verily proved.

Being infinite, the Secondless "Sat-Chit-Ananda-Para-Brahman" is the only Existence that ever exists. Whatever exists and seems to exist is verily that Infinite "Sat-Chit-Ananda-Para-Brahman". There is nothing else but That - सर्वं खान्चिधाम्ब्रह्मा न्य्हनानाखिकिम्चन . Hence it is verily the Self is verily that "Sat-Chit-Ananda-Para-Brahman". Hence, it is the only thing worth aspiring and attaining. It is the birth right of all and as such, its attainment is a natural duty incumbent on all human beings. Anything that appears different from that "Infinite,Secondless, Sat-Chit-Ananda-Para-Brahman" is false and unreal, and hence the phenomenal diversity is declared false and unreal by the Vedanta. So the struggle for this unreal phenomena is as unreal and undesirable as death itself.

It is the inherent, conscious or unconscious understanding of the unreality of the phenomenal existence, and the Reality of the Self-Same, Secondless, Sat-Chit-Ananda-Para-Brahman, that invariably and naturally propels the individual souls to seek and struggle after the same Infinite-Brahman, though for this time being the right aim of life seems to be obscured from the view of the souls owing to the countless Vasanas, (impressions of the past) and ties of innumerable births which make the souls subject to countless perambulations like the bull of an oil-mill, in the narrowed limits of the phenomenal world, without finding any satisfaction and way out. The veil Ajnana (అజ్ఞాన ) (nescience) as to the right aim and goal of life struggle, can easily be torn off by the Infinite Grace of Perfect Seers and the right study and mode of life on the lines shown by such seers.

Thus, in all respects, the attainment of the Self-Same, Infinite, Sat-Chit-Ananda-Para-Brahman, being the real aim and purport of our existence and life's struggles, the chief merit of all humanity - as endowed with rare gifts of reasoning and judgement, is to live in a state of Conscious-untiring-endeavour of he worthy Great Struggle - through concentration, meditation, and trance,(Dharana, ధారణ ,Dhyana, ధ్యాన , and Samadhi, సమాధి ) as wisely taught by the Vedicseers - and finally attain unto the Self-Same, Infinite, Sat-Chit-Ananda-Para-Brahman, in the Sublime Glory of Perfection.

OM-TAT-SAT