Day - 208 - Vasistha's Response to Bhusunda

Day - 208 - Vasistha's Response to Bhusunda

Admiration and Departure

Vasistha responded to Bhusunda's inspiring account with admiration, blessing him and expressing gratitude for the experience. Bhusunda, in a gesture of friendship, accompanied Vasistha for a distance before they parted ways.

Teaching Rama

Vasistha then advised Rama to practice pranayama and live like Bhusunda to achieve similar equanimity and peace.

Rama's Inquiry

The Body's Origin

Rama asked Vasistha about the body's origin, its existence, and who dwells within it. Vasistha explained that the body is an illusory appearance, existing only when the mind perceives it as real. The body is experienced during dreams, daydreams, and various activities, but it is ultimately a product of the mind.

Illusory Nature of the World

Vasistha emphasized that notions like "this is wealth" or "this is the body" are manifestations of the mind's energy and are illusory. The world and its appearances are like a long dream or hallucination. Awakening from this illusion reveals the true nature of consciousness.

Right Understanding

Realizing the Illusion

Vasistha explained that true understanding comes from recognizing the world as an appearance of pure consciousness. This realization brings peace, freeing the mind from praise and censure, exultation and depression.

Embracing the Infinite Consciousness

When one understands that death and prosperity are inevitable, they no longer cause sorrow. Realizing the body's illusory nature and its distinction from the self leads to freedom from fear and attachment.

Living Without Hope

Detaching from the Unreal

Vasistha advised Rama to live without hope or attachment to the unreal. By abandoning considerations of desirable and undesirable, one can live happily and playfully.

The Infinite Consciousness

Understanding Reality

Vasistha concluded by emphasizing that the infinite consciousness alone exists. Recognizing the appearance as an appearance leads to the realization of the true essence. By adopting an attitude of "I am everything" or "I am not," one can transcend the lure of world-appearance and attain freedom from attraction and aversion.