In2-MeC

Auckland, New Zealand
2 November 2003

Taittiriya Upanisad Part Two is called Brahmavalli. The eighth chapter of Brahmavalli offers an analysis of ananda, bliss.

It is said that a full measure of human bliss is experienced by a young, strong, learned man who owns all the wealth of the world. But greater than such a man is a Gandharva of the earthly realm. The happiness of the earthly Gandharva is a hundred times the full measure of human happiness. Such happiness is also attained by the man who knows all the Vedas and is free from desire. Superior to the Gandharva of this earthly region is the Gandharva of the world above Earth. He enjoys happiness a hundred times greater than the earthly Gandharva. His bliss is known by a man who knows all the Vedas and is free from desire. Higher than the Gandharvas of the upper world are the forefathers; their bliss is a hundred times greater. Such bliss is tasted by the man who knows the Vedas and is free from desire. Above the forefathers are the demigods who acheived their status by good birth. Their bliss is a hundred times greater than that of the forefathers. A man who knows all the Vedas and is free from desire attains this bliss also. Above those born into demigod families are those who acheived demigod status by performance of sacrifice. A hundred times greater is the bliss they enjoy. A man who knows all the Vedas and is free of desire is established in that bliss. Higher yet are the natural demigods whose happiness is a hundred times more; it too is tasted by the man who knows all the Vedas and is free of desire. The bliss of Indra is a hundred times more than that, but still a man who knows all the Vedas and is free of desire enjoys the same bliss. A hundred times increased is the bliss of Brhaspati. A man who knows all the Vedas and is free of desire tastes Brhaspati's bliss as well. Prajapati's bliss--and the bliss of a man who knows all the Vedas and is free of desire--is greater by a hundred times. The bliss that Brahman enjoys is a hundred times more than that of Prajapati. This bliss is relished by the man who knows all the Vedas and is free of desire.

One who knows the bliss of Brahman is never afraid, Chapter Nine of Brahmavalli declares. He does not agonize by thinking, "Why did I not do the right thing? Why did I do the wrong thing?" His acheivement of the liberated state is understood by his freedom from these two thoughts. This is the hidden teaching of the Upanisad.

But:

tvat-saksatkaranahlada-
visuddhabdhi-sthitasya me
sukhani gospadayante
brahmany api jagad-guro

My dear Lord, O master of the universe, since I have directly seen You, my transcendental bliss has taken the shape of a great ocean. Being situated in that ocean, I now realize all other so-called happiness to be like the water contained in the hoofprint of a calf. (Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 14. 36)

krsna-name ye ananda-sindhu-asvadana
brahmananda tara age khatodaka-sama

Compared to the ocean of transcendental bliss which is tasted by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, the pleasure derived from impersonal Brahman realization [brahmananda] is like the shallow water in a canal. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 7. 97)

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