[Advaita-l] Yoga Vasishtha Sara - The Essence of the Yoga Vasishtha - CHAPTER IV (DISSOLUTION OF THE MIND)

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Continued from previous post)
 
 
CHAPTER IV: DISSOLUTION OF THE MIND


1. Consciousness which is undivided
imagines to itself desirable objects and runs
after them. It is then known as the mind.
 
2. From this omnipresent and omnipotent
Supreme Lord arose, like ripples in water,
the power of imagining separate objects.
 
3. Just as fire born out of wind (fanned
into a flame) is extinguished by the same
wind, so also that which is born of imagination
is destroyed by imagination itself.
 
4. The mind has come into existence
through this (imagination) on account of
forgetfulness. Like the experience of one's
own death in a dream ceases to exist when
scrutinised.
 
5. The ideas of Self in what is not the Self
is, due to incorrect understanding. The idea
of reality in what is unreal, O Rama, know
that to be the mind (chittam).
 
6. 'This is he' , 'I am this', 'That is
mine', such (ideas) constitute the mind ; it
disappears when one ponders over these
false ideas.
 
7. It is the nature of the mind to accept
certain things and to reject others ; this is
the bondage, nothing else.
 
8. The mind is the creator of the world ;
the mind is the individual (purusha) ; only
that which is done by the mind is regarded
as done, not that which is done by the
body. The arm with which one embraces the
wife is the very arm with which one
embraces the daughter.
 
9. The mind is the cause of (produces)
the objects of perception. The three worlds
depend upon it. When it is dissolved the
world is also dissolved. It is to be cured
(purified) with effort.
 
10. The mind is bound by the latent impressions
(vasanas). When there are no
impressions it is free. Therefore, O Rama,
bring about quickly, through discrimination,
the state in which there are no
impressions.
 
11. Just as a streak of cloud stains
(appears to stain) the moon or a blotch of
ink a lime-plastered wall, so also the evil
spirit of desire stains the inner man.
 
12. O Rama, he who, with inturned mind,
offers all the three worlds, like dried grass,
as an oblation in the fire of knowledge,
becomes free from the illusions of the mind.
 
13. When one knows the real truth about
acceptance and rejection and does not think;
of anything but abides in himself, abandoning
everything, (his) mind does not come
into existence.
 
14. The mind is terrible (ghoram) in the
waking state, gentle (santam) in the dream
state, dull (mudham) in deep sleep and dead
when not in any of these three states.
 
15. Just as the powder of the kataka seed,
after precipitating the dirt in water,
becomes merged in the water, so also the
mind (after removing all impressions) itself
becomes merged (in the Self).
 
16. The mind is samsara ; the mind is also
said to be bondage ; the body is activated by
the mind just as a tree is shaken by the
wind.
 
17. Conquer your mind first, by pressing
the palm with the palm, grinding the teeth
with the teeth and twisting the limbs with
the limbs.
 
18. Does not the fool feel ashamed to move
about in the world as he pleases and talk
about meditation when he is not able to
conquer even the mind ?
 
19. The only god to be conquered, is the
mind. Its conquest leads to the attainment
of everything. Without its conquest all other
efforts are fruitless.
 
20. To be unperturbed is the foundation
of blessedness (Sri). One attains liberation
by it. To human beings even the conquest of
the three worlds, without the conquest of
the mind, is as insignificant as a blade of
grass.
 
21. Association with the wise, abandonment
of latent impressions, self-enquiry,
control of breathing — these are the means
of conquering the mind.
 
22. To one who is shod with leather the
earth is as good as covered with leather.
Even so to the mind which is full
(undivided) the world overflows with
nectar.
 
23. The mind becomes bound by thinking
'I am not Brahman' ; it becomes completely
released by thinking 'I am Brahman'.
 
24. When the mind is abandoned (dissolved)
everything that is dual or single is
dissolved. What remains after that is the
Supreme Brahman, peaceful, eternal and
free from misery.
 
25. There is nothing to equal the supreme
joy felt by a person of pure mind who has
attained the state of pure consciousness and
overcome death.
 
 
(To be Continued)