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Freedom from Anguish (Avyatha Chetanā)
One who has attained the nirvikalpa chetanā lives in a world which is definitely different from this mundane world. But it is real and not utopian. The first benefit which accrues from the attainment of this level of consciousness is awakening of avyatha chetanā i.e. one which is free from all mental afflictions, torments and anguish. Even when he is faced with most adverse conditions, or serious and dangerous problems, he would keep calm and remain unperturbed. Just as one, who is soundly asleep, is unaffected by what goes on around him, a practitionerwho has attained nirvikalpa chetana, though conscious and awake, would remain unaffected and unperturbed by environmental conditions. Nothing would ever agitate or trouble him. It is not that he is ignorant of the conditions around him, i.e. he is aware, but is not upset by them. He remains a witness but does not become a performer.
Freedom from Infatuation (Amūdha Chetanā)
The second benefit which accrues is that the practitioner becomes free from delusion and is, therefore, not stupefied or infatuated. There is abundance of infatuating factors in this world. One sees, one lears and becomes deluded and infatuated. Similarly one becomes stupefied by a thought. Everywhere there are factors which cause infatuation and one gets ensnared in one of them. The delusion is an attribute of the vikalpa chetana. Once the higher level of consciousness, i.e. nirvikalpa chetunā is attained, there is total freedom from infatuation.
Attainment of Wisdom (Viveka Chetana)
The third benefit is attainment of wisdom--viveka chetana. A practitioner, on attaining wisdom, develops a faculty of discernment. He acquires the ability to distinguish between -
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