Anand (आनंद)
Anand means bliss, happiness, or joy and can refer to different kinds of happiness, while Divine Anand is the unlimited, eternal bliss that is God's very nature.
Anand (आनंद | ānanda) means bliss, happiness, or joy.
The Vedas proclaim that Brahm is Anand. This does not mean that God merely possesses or contains bliss. God is Bliss.
Characteristics of Anand
True Anand possesses the following characteristics:
- Unlimited — no other bliss surpasses it in magnitude.
- Eternal — it is everlasting and never ceases.
- Ever-new — it always feels new and never becomes stale.
- Ever-increasing — it continually increases in magnitude.
- Conscious — it is sentient, not inert.
- Omniscient — it is all-knowing.
Happiness that does not possess these characteristics cannot be classified as real Anand. It is either a reflection of Anand or merely an illusion of happiness.
In ordinary usage, anand also refers to happiness experienced in the material world. However, Shri Maharaj Ji distinguishes this temporary happiness from Divine Anand, which is unlimited and everlasting.
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