Ananda

 

How can we acquire Ananda, Swamiji, spiritual bliss?

Ananda is not something you can acquire or procure from somewhere, outside you, or from some one other than you.  It is in you, all the time, it is your genuine nature.  You are Ananda.  That is why I address you as Anandaswaroopa. When you experience Ananda, it is Prapta-prapti (getting the already got), not aprapta-prapti (getting the not-got).  This gentleman here, with a book, needs, let us say five shillings urgently; he asks the doctor sitting by his side to lend him the sum.  The doctor agrees but even as he is saying so, he takes the book casually into his hand and turning over the pages, he finds between the leaves a five-shilling note!  He gives it back to the owner saying, "You do not need a loan now; this is yours; you had it all this while, only you did not know you had it."  This is "getting the already got".  

Ananda is got like this.  The Guru or Spiritual master or Preceptor reveals to you the treasure of Ananda which you had but which you had forgotten or neglected or discarded or never knew of.

We are trying our best, Swami, to know the source of Ananda but this Aadhi, Vyaadhi and Upaadhi do not end and we have no peace.

Do not put the three things together; for the Aadhi and the Vyaadhi affect only the Upaadhi (physical body); they cannot affect "you", who are only residents in the Upaadhi.  Aadhi means "mental pain" and Vyaadhi means "bodily pain"; both affect but the health.

How can your car be "you"?  Meditate on this truth and by practice, make that truth evident in your consciousness at all times.  Then Aadhi and Vyaadhi will not affect you.  They will pass by harmlessly.

(From the book "The Light of Love")