Day 209 - The Teachings of Vasishtha to Rama

Day 209 - The Teachings of Vasishtha to Rama

The Enlightened State

Vasishtha's Silence: Vasishtha became silent when he noticed Rama completely absorbed in self-realization. After Rama returned to normal consciousness, Vasishtha resumed his discourse.

Attaining Self-Knowledge

Exalted State: Vasishtha praised Rama for gaining self-knowledge and encouraged him to remain in this elevated state, free from worldly entanglements. The cycle of birth and death (world-appearance) revolves around ideas and thoughts. When these thoughts cease, the world-appearance also ends.

Self-Effort and Wisdom

Arresting the Wheel: Vasishtha emphasized using supreme self-effort, strength, wisdom, and common sense to restrain thoughts and notions. This is the only way to achieve mastery over the mind, abandoning the false belief in divine intervention.

The Illusory Nature of the Body

World-Appearance: The world-appearance started with the Creator's thought-force but is inherently false. Bodies, born of natural elements, are transient and should not be considered real or the source of pleasure and pain.

Comparison with a Statue

Ignorant Man: Vasishtha compared the ignorant man, who suffers and cries, to a statue, noting that a statue is free from sorrow, illness, and death, unlike the human body, which is doomed to decay and die. Therefore, the body should not be a source of hope.

Dream Body vs. Wakeful Body

Product of Thoughts: The body, whether considered real or unreal, is a product of long-standing thoughts and notions, causing prolonged suffering. When the body dies, nothing is lost, similar to losing a second moon when cured of diplopia. The self, as infinite consciousness, remains unchanged.

The Merry-Go-Round of Ignorance

Illusory Revolving World: Vasishtha likened a man's perception of the world to a merry-go-round, where ignorance makes the world seem to revolve. The spiritual hero should reject this illusion, understanding the body as a product of ignorant thoughts.

Inert Body and Infinite Self

Witnessing Intelligence: The body, an inert object, does not perform actions or have desires. The self, as infinite consciousness, is the witnessing intelligence. One should remain in the self, naturally and spontaneously, like a lamp in a windless place.

... to be continued