2. I Feel Therefore I Seek

A saying of Descartes: “Cogito, ergo sum.” Because I think I can understand from that that I exist. But that is sat, existence, and chit, cognizance or awareness that I exist. This is what separates us from inert matter. Sat, chit, then, a third aspect comes into awareness: I exist for some purpose. So, ānanda. Sat-chit-ānanda: pleasure, happiness, joy, ecstasy. Consciousness allows me to feel those things. But it also allows me to feel sad, unhappy, pain, suffering.