Changes

This chapter focuses like other ancient Upanishads on the theme of [[Ātman (Hinduism)|Atman]] (Self, Soul). It asserts that "Atman exists", it is [[Brahman]], and realizing it is the highest, empowering, liberating knowledge.<ref name="pauldeussenavintro">Paul Deussen, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120814684, page 232-235</ref> The Ananda Valli asserts that knowing one's Self is the path to freedom from all concerns, fears and to a positive state of blissful living.<ref name="pauldeussenavintro" />

This chapter focuses like other ancient Upanishads on the theme of [[Ātman (Hinduism)|Atman]] (Self, Soul). It asserts that "Atman exists", it is [[Brahman]], and realizing it is the highest, empowering, liberating knowledge.<ref name="pauldeussenavintro">Paul Deussen, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120814684, page 232-235</ref> The Ananda Valli asserts that knowing one's Self is the path to freedom from all concerns, fears and to a positive state of blissful living.<ref name="pauldeussenavintro" />

The Ananda Valli is remarkable for its ''Kosha'' (Sanskrit: कोष) theory (or ''[[Maya (illusion)|Layered Maya]]'' theory), expressing that man reaches his highest potential and understands the deepest knowledge by a process of learning the right and unlearning the wrong. Real deeper knowledge is hidden in layers of superficial knowledge, but superficial knowledge is easier and simplistic. The Ananda Valli classifies these as concentric layers (sheaths) of knowledge-seeking.<ref>PT Raju, The Concept of the Spiritual in Indian Thought, Philosophy East and West, Vol. 4, No. 3, pages 195-213</ref> The outermost layer it calls ''Annamaya'' which envelops and hides ''Pranamaya'', which in turn envelops  ''Manomaya'', inside which is ''Vijnanamaya'', and finally the ''Anandamaya'' which the Upanishad states is the innermost, deepest layer.<ref name=pauldeussenavintro/><ref>S Mukerjee (2011), Indian Management Philosophy, in The Palgrave Handbook of Spirituality and Business (Editors: Luk Bouckaert and Laszlo Zsolnai), Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 978-0230238312, pages 82-83</ref><ref name=eliotdeutsch/>

Ananda Valli is remarkable for its ''Kosha'' (Sanskrit: कोष) theory (or ''[[Maya (illusion)|Layered Maya]]'' theory), expressing that man reaches his highest potential and understands the deepest knowledge by a process of learning the right and unlearning the wrong. Real deeper knowledge is hidden in layers of superficial knowledge, but superficial knowledge is easier and simplistic. The Ananda Valli classifies these as concentric layers (sheaths) of knowledge-seeking.<ref>PT Raju, The Concept of the Spiritual in Indian Thought, Philosophy East and West, Vol. 4, No. 3, pages 195-213</ref> The outermost layer it calls ''Annamaya'' which envelops and hides ''Pranamaya'', which in turn envelops  ''Manomaya'', inside which is ''Vijnanamaya'', and finally the ''Anandamaya'' which the Upanishad states is the innermost, deepest layer.<ref name=pauldeussenavintro/><ref>S Mukerjee (2011), Indian Management Philosophy, in The Palgrave Handbook of Spirituality and Business (Editors: Luk Bouckaert and Laszlo Zsolnai), Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 978-0230238312, pages 82-83</ref><ref name=eliotdeutsch/>

The Ananda Valli asserts that Self-knowledge is "not" attainable by cultic worship of God or gods motivated by egoistic cravings and desires (''Manomaya'').<ref name=pauldeussenavintro/> ''Vijnanamaya'' or one with segregated knowledge experiences the deeper state of existence but it too is insufficient. The complete, unified and blissful state of Self-knowledge is, states Ananda Valli, that where one becomes one with all reality, there is no separation between object and subject, I and we, Atman and Brahman. Realization of Atman is a deep state of absorption, oneness, communion.<ref name=pauldeussenavintro/>

The Ananda Valli asserts that Self-knowledge is "not" attainable by cultic worship of God or gods motivated by egoistic cravings and desires (''Manomaya'').<ref name=pauldeussenavintro/> ''Vijnanamaya'' or one with segregated knowledge experiences the deeper state of existence but it too is insufficient. The complete, unified and blissful state of Self-knowledge is, states Ananda Valli, that where one becomes one with all reality, there is no separation between object and subject, I and we, Atman and Brahman. Realization of Atman is a deep state of absorption, oneness, communion.<ref name=pauldeussenavintro/>