The Spiritual Philosophy of Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti: A commentary on Ánanda Sútram
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Sutra 1-23

TASYA STHITIH AMA'NASIKES'U.

THIS STATE (OF NIRVIKALPA SAMA'DHI) IS BEYOND THE MIND.

tasya = of it (of nirvikalpa sama'dhi, Nirgun'a Brahma)

sthitih = state

ama'nasikes'u = beyond the mind: prefix "a-" denotes negation

The unit entity cannot understand or describe the Supreme Consciousness, because that Consciousness exists beyond the mind.  The mind is the object of the Supreme Consciousness, so it cannot take that Consciousness as its object.  The unit entity can never perceive Brahma with its ego.  But whenever the unit thinks about that Consciousness, the bondage of the gun'as gradually lessens and finally there remains no bondage, no separate existence of mind.  The mind enters the nonqualified state, and the distinction of knower and known is removed.  The salt doll goes to measure the depth of the ocean and then dissolves into it — what is left to say how deep the waters are?  When the mind merges into pure Consciousness, who is left to describe it?

Throughout the ages when spiritual preceptors tried to describe this state, they had to become silent.

. . . the mind itself ceases to work.  Such a state is called "[nirvikalpa] sama'dhi."  To explain Paramapurus'a at such a time is . . . impossible. . . .  It is indeed a difficult state and the guru becomes dumb and the disciple, deaf.  What can the guru do except become dumb?  Because of the limited scope of language he cannot express himself.  How can Paramapurus'a be symbolized in words?  (Ba'ba', Supreme Expression I  ['s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands: Nirvikalpa Printing, 1978], pp. 29-30).

Once a devout man sent his two sons to a guru to learn the knowledge of Brahma.  After a few years they returned home.  The father questioned the boys on what they had learned.  He asked the older boy, "My child, you have studied all the scriptures.  Tell me, what is the nature of Brahma."   The boy began to recite many shlokas* and su'tras from the scriptures.  Then the father asked the younger child the same question, but the boy remained silent and stood with his eyes cast down.  No word escaped from his lips.  The father was pleased and said, "My child you have understood a little of Brahma.  What It is cannot be expressed in words." (Told by Ra'makrs'n'a.)

When Ra'makrs'n'a tried to describe the state of nirvikalpa sama'dhi he would grope for words and finally, thinking about that state, his mind would merge in it and he would become senseless, silent.  When again he returned to consciousness, he would say, "I am trying to describe it to you but I just can't seem to - " and again his mind would merge.

Once the close disciple of Lord Buddha, A'nanda, asked him, "Does God exist?"  The Buddha remained silent.  Then A'nanda asked, "Does God then not exist?"  Again the Buddha remained silent.

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* Verse or poetry expressing philosophy or ideas in a rhythmic and explicit way.

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© 2001 by Ananda Marga Inc.