Day - 210 - Vashishta's discourse continues

Day - 210 - Vashishta's discourse continues

Ego-Sense and Mind

Ghost of Egosense: The false notion of the body being real gives rise to the egosense or mind, which creates fear. Laying this ghost allows one to live without fear in the world.

Subservience to Egosense

Impermanent Body: The body, created by the illusory ghost known as the mind, is impermanent and unstable. Vasishtha urged Rama to give up this subservience and rest in the self.

Friends and Relatives

Poisonous Actions: Actions done under the influence of the egosense are poisonous and lead to death. The fool, devoid of wisdom and courage, is already dead, like firewood ready for the fire.

Mind's Inability to Harm

Awakened Intelligence: When the egosense is ignored and abandoned by awakened intelligence, it cannot harm the self, which is infinite consciousness.

Play of Egosense

Weeping and Wailing: All suffering in the world is the play of the egosense. The self, like space, is unaffected by it.

Actions and the Self

Indirect Responsibility: The self is regarded as responsible for the actions of the body, mind, and prana (life-force), similar to how space allows plants to grow. However, there is no direct connection between the inert body and the conscious self.

Abandoning Delusion

Goblin-Mind: The mind, residing in the body, assumes "I am the self," causing birth and death. This delusion robs one of courage. Vasishtha advised Rama to abandon this ghost and remain firm in the self.

Protection and Guidance

Role of Guru and Scriptures: Neither scriptures, relatives, nor gurus can protect one overpowered by the mind. However, laying the ghost of the egosense allows for guidance and support.

Impermanence and Stability

Impermanent Body: Vasishtha warned against wandering in the worldly existence and the illusion of family relationships for the sake of the impermanent body.

Non-Different Nature

Mind and Consciousness: The mind and infinite consciousness are non-different, like the nature of a pot and a piece of cloth. Vasishtha shared teachings from Lord Shiva to destroy delusion and reveal the true vision.

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These teachings of Vasishtha to Rama highlight the illusory nature of the body and the world, emphasizing self-effort, wisdom, and the abandonment of egosense to achieve true self-realization. By understanding the impermanence of the physical form and the eternal nature of the self, one can attain liberation and inner peace.