Day 244 - Why Lord Siva's Form is Unique

Day 244 - Why Lord Siva's Form is Unique

Rama's question:
Why does Lord Siva appear unclothed, living in cremation grounds, adorned with skulls, covered in ashes, and seemingly overcome by desires?

Vasistha's response:
The actions of divine beings like gods, enlightened sages, and liberated individuals do not follow ordinary rules or social norms—these are created by people who do not understand deeper truths. However, for the ignorant, who are strongly conditioned by their minds, rules are necessary to maintain order in society. Without these rules, chaos would reign, where the strong would overpower the weak. A wise person, on the other hand, naturally controls their desires and lives with awareness. They act spontaneously, without attachment to outcomes, like a coconut falling from a tree, unaffected by external events. Their actions are pure, beyond judgment, and they may choose to act or remain inactive.

Even the divine beings like Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva take on incarnations with this enlightened understanding. Their actions are free from ego, and they do not see things as 'mine' or 'yours.' Their actions are pure, like the heat of fire, without personal motive.

The Silence of the Disembodied

Vasistha continues:
There is another form of silence, known as the silence of the disembodied, which I didn't mention earlier because you are still embodied. But now, I will briefly explain it. Those who are fully enlightened and constantly in deep meditation are known as "Samkhya Yogis." Those who have reached a state of consciousness without a body through practices like pranayama (breath control) are known as "Yoga-Yogis." Both paths lead to the same goal—the cessation of the mind. The mind is the cause of the world and bondage, and by stopping either the breath or thoughts, liberation is achieved. This is the core teaching of all scriptures on liberation.

Rama's Doubt on Liberation and Death

Rama's question:
If stopping the breath leads to liberation, then does death bring liberation to everyone?

Vasistha's explanation:
When the life force (prana) is about to leave the body, it connects with the elements that will form the next body. These elements are shaped by the psychological conditioning (vasanas) of the individual. When the prana leaves, it takes these vasanas with it. The mind remains until self-knowledge destroys these vasanas. Only when the vasanas are destroyed does the mind become "no-mind," leading to supreme peace. Realizing the unreality of the world ends the connection between the mind and the life force.

The mind is nothing but the collection of vasanas. When these vasanas cease, the supreme state is attained. True knowledge is the realization of reality, and inquiry into the self is the path to this knowledge. Focusing entirely on one truth, restraining the breath, or stopping the mind—perfecting any of these leads to the supreme state. The life force and the mind are interconnected, like a flower and its fragrance. When the mind is absorbed in the self, the movement of prana also stops, leading to the supreme state.

Achieving the Supreme State

Vasistha concludes:
When the mind no longer seeks pleasure, it merges with the self along with the life force. Ignorance is nothingness; self-knowledge is the highest state. The mind, when it appears real, is ignorance. Realizing its non-existence is the supreme state. Even if the mind remains absorbed in the self for just a moment, it undergoes a transformation and does not return to the worldly state. The seeds of worldly existence are destroyed, ignorance is dispelled, and the vasanas are pacified. A person who achieves this state is firmly rooted in truth, sees the inner light, and rests in supreme peace.