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Delight of Existence: The Problem

(Book 1 Chapter XI)

 

Introduction
In this chapter, Sri Aurobindo discusses the third aspect of Satchitananda -- Delight (i.e. Ananda). He discusses how it came to be from an Infinite source, why it did so (i.e. what purpose it served in creation), why we experience pain instead, and how we can know the hidden, involved Delight that is there in our being by elevating our consciousness.

Here are the main points in greater detail:

Emergence of Delight (Ananda) from Brahman
Sri Aurobindo says that the third poise that Brahman took out of itself is Delight. First, there is the Conscious Being, out of which emanates a conscious Force, which in turn generates Delight (Ananda of Sat-Chit-Ananda). [I.e. Being delighted in its ineffable, immutable, timeless, spaceless, conscious existence, as well as the conscious Force that emanated from it. delight is a product of Being and conscious Force.]

Delights' Urge to Extend to Creation
Sri Aurobindo also indicates that just as the conscious Force would extend into a multiplicity of forms in creation, so would Delight. That just as the Infinite (Brahman, the Reality) extended its conscious Force into creation to become the energy that would take a myriad of forms, so  there was a cosmic urge to extend its own Delight into infinitely-varying forms (including us).

Purpose of Creation is Delight
In fact, Sri Aurobindo tells is that the very reason a universe was created in the first place was for the purpose of Delight; to extend it into a myriad of forms so they could experience it. [We will learn that the Being wished to extend its own static delight into the dynamic delight of a myriad of forms in creation. When each of us experience our higher nature, we experience that delight, thereby fulfilling the Divine intent.]

Division and Ignorance Causes Pain, Blocks Delight
He then asks a most profound question (hence the title of the chapter 'Delight of Existence: The Problem'). If there is such Delight permeating the Reality, including this universe of forms, how come we humans experience pain and suffering instead. First he says that in fact we experience far more pleasure than pain in life, and we should keep things in perspective. He then posits that pain is due to our wrong consciousness, particularly our divided nature and ignorance rooted in our ego sense. When we overcome these and discover our higher nature, we experience the Delight.

Transient Happiness vs. Everlasting Delight
Sri Aurobindo also makes the distinction between normal human happiness and the Delight of creation. He says that the ordinary happiness and joy of life is transient, ephemeral, depending on whether conditions are perceived as favorable or particular causes. Delight on the other hand comes from the Infinite consciousness and is therefore universal, illimitable, and self existent, continuous, and ever-lasting.

He then says that when the Divine conscious force works in us, then the transient joy will be replaced by the self-existent satisfaction that is the Immortal's ecstasy.

Delight is in All Forms Which We Can Bring to the Surface
Finally, he says that the delight of existence is there inherent in all forms, and we must bring it to the surface of our existence.

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Table: Role of Delight (Ananda) in Creation:
In this table we see how Delight is the third aspect of Sat-Chit-Ananda that emerged from the Reality (Brahman, the Absolute). Indicated here is that the Being delighted in its existence, including the conscious Force it emanated. Thus Delight, the third aspect of Sat-Chit-Ananda came to be.

THE REALITY (Brahman, The Absolute)
SAT-CHIT-ANANDA
Existence/Being (SAT) (pure absolute Existence, Being; timeless, spaceless, immutable, ineffable; the Stability behind movement; Spirit, Truth)	Conscious-Force (CHIT) (The Being is Conscious of itself. which throws out a Force that will become the basis of the forms of that Force and Energy)	Delight (ANANDA) (Because of the Infinite nature of Existence/Being and the emergence of a conscious Force from it, Delight emerges.)

 

[DETAILS]

DELIGHT IN THE REALITY, INCLUDING CREATION

-Brahman, the Pure Existent is the beginning and the continent of things.

-It then throws itself as a movement of consciousness, which is creation of forces, forms, and worlds.

-Why does It do this?

-The Absolute conscious existence is Delight.

-It creates a universe to extend that Delight into a multiplicity of forms.

-In fact our true essence as forms in creation is that Delight.

-As we in the relative touch upon the Absolute in our lives, we come to know that Delight.

-Just as the force of consciousness is capable of throwing itself into forms infinitely and with endless variation so too can that delight express in infinitely various forms.

-The force of consciousness (Chit of Satchitananda) is capable of infinite variation in phenomenon and form, and endlessly enjoying the Delight of that variation.

-To loose for the and enjoy this infinite movement and variation of its self-delight is the object of its existence or creative play of Force.

-Just as we find that all things are mutable forms of one immutable being, finite results of one infinite force, all things are expressions of a delight of existence.

-In everything is conscious force, as well as delight of existence.

-And everything exists and is what it is by virtue of that Delight.

 

PAIN & SUFFERING VS. DELIGHT

-If this is so, why is the world one of pain and suffering?

-Actually, we experience far more pleasure than pain.

-The pain affects us more intensely because the pleasure is the norm. It seems like an attack from our normal consciousness.

-If God is all Good, how can he have created a world of pain. [It is the universal philosophical question.]

-But in Vedanta all is the divine, even suffering.

-The real question is how did Existence, Conscious-Force, Delight admit of an existence without bliss; its negative opposite of pain?

-The attempt to have an ethical view of Nature is one of confusion; something pathetic.

-Material Nature is not ethical.

-Nature concerns itself not with good and evil, but with the force that creates, arranges, pressures, disturbs, and destroys.

-Thus, the narrow ethical view, which constantly shifts with the society, cannot be used to solve the problems of the universe.

 

OVERCOMING DIVISION, IGNORANCE, PAIN BRINGS DELIGHT

Because we live in division, ignorance of self and egoism, we fail to experience this inherent Delight in us. That is the reason for the pain of life; for the absence of Delight.

 

FROM TRANSCIENT HUMAN JOY TO THE EMERGENCE OF DELIGHT IN CREATION

Human joy is ephemeral. Delight of being is universal, illimitable, and self existent, not dependent on particular causes like human happiness.

When the Divine conscious force works in us, then the transient joy will be replaced by the self-existent satisfaction that is the Immortal's ecstasy.

 

BRINGING DELIGHT TO THE SURFACE

Delight is subconscient in matter and seeks in Mind and Life to realize itself.

 

OTHER

Satchitananda moves toward the realization of universal, self existent and objectless delight in the flux of the particular experiences and objects.