The Wise Demons and the Path to Liberation

Day 135

The Wise Demons and the Path to Liberation

Following the downfall of Dama, Vyala, and Kata, the demon king Sambara realized their mistake. They were powerful but ultimately faltered due to ego. So, Sambara created three new demons – Bhima, Bhasa, and Drdha.

Demons with a Difference:

These new demons were unlike any others. They possessed self-knowledge, wisdom, and detachment. They saw the world as inconsequential and fought without fear or attachment. They were the embodiment of selfless action.

Victory and Liberation:

The gods, unable to defeat them, sought refuge in Vishnu. Vishnu himself intervened and ultimately defeated Sambara. Interestingly, upon their physical death, Bhima, Bhasa, and Drdha attained liberation because they were free from ego.

Contrasting Destinies:

Vasistha uses this contrasting tale to illustrate the importance of self-knowledge. Dama, Vyala, and Kata represent conditioned minds ruled by ego, leading to suffering. Bhima, Bhasa, and Drdha represent liberated minds free from ego.

The Key to Liberation:

Vasistha emphasizes that liberation lies in transcending a conditioned mind. When we see through the illusion and realize our true nature as pure consciousness, the mind finds peace. This clear perception is the key.

Taming the Deluded Mind:

Vasistha advises Rama to control his mind, which is often driven by ignorance and delusion. He emphasizes that mastering the mind is the only way to overcome worldly suffering and the cycle of birth and death.

Breaking Free from Cravings:

The core of bondage, according to Vasistha, is craving for pleasure. He advises treating pleasure as poison and abandoning all desires. True happiness comes from cultivating good qualities and letting go of attachments.

The Mind – A Double-Edged Sword:

Vasistha portrays the mind as both a creator and destroyer. The conditioned mind creates thoughts, desires, and suffering. However, through self-inquiry, the mind can awaken and transcend its limitations, ultimately dissolving into pure consciousness.

The Jiva and the Infinite:

The concept of the jiva is introduced. It's the part of the infinite consciousness that identifies with the limitations of a physical being. This identification with the body and mind leads the jiva away from its true nature and into the cycle of rebirth.

The Self Unbound:

The true self, Vasistha clarifies, is not the jiva, the body, nor anything material. It's the infinite consciousness, independent of all limitations.

The Mind's Projections:

Our experiences are projections of our own minds. The state of our mind determines our rebirth. Impure thoughts lead to undesirable experiences, while pure thoughts lead to a better state of being.

Beyond Duality:

Vasistha suggests that there's ultimately no real bondage or liberation. It's the infinite consciousness that creates the illusion of being bound to the body. Liberation comes with realizing this oneness.

The Mind and the Infinite:

A pure mind reflects the infinite consciousness, just like a clean cloth readily absorbs color. When the mind gets entangled with external objects, it moves away from its true nature. Letting go of this subject-object relationship leads to absorption in the infinite.

The Illusory Mind:

The mind itself is an illusion, a temporary construct with no independent existence. True reality is the infinite consciousness that veils itself through the mind.

Liberation from Suffering:

When the mind's conditioning ceases, suffering caused by ignorance, desires, and fear also dissolves. True knowledge and liberation arise, leading to the experience of the blissful self.

The Path to Self-Realization:

Vasistha concludes by highlighting the importance of self-inquiry. By purifying the mind and seeking the truth within, one can attain the light of self-knowledge and liberation, experiencing peace and freedom from fear.