Ancient Knowledge from Indian Texts

Day 273 - Vasistha's Final Teachings on Desire, Consciousness, and Liberation The Illusory Nature of the World and Desire Vasistha continues by explaining that the universe, as perceived through consciousness, is similar to a hallucination . What seems real to one person, like a child’s imaginary world, is not experienced by others. The universe exists only as consciousness , and Vasistha asserts that he perceives only this pure consciousness—not the external world or egosense. The true nature of reality is absolute peace , and even the dialogue between Vasistha and Rama exists only in Rama’s consciousness. For one who has transcended desire , the world becomes like an empty reed , devoid of essence. Desire is the root of samsara (the cycle of birth and death), and its cessation brings about supreme joy . Vasistha emphasizes that yoga is about eliminating the poison of desire. Even if a person has desires, they must realize that there is nothing to desire because everything is ul...

Day 272 -  Vasistha's Wisdom on Consciousness, Egosense, and Liberation The Illusory Nature of the 'I' and the World Vasistha continues to explain that the notions of 'I' and 'the world' arise from movements within the infinite consciousness. These concepts are not inherently harmful if one recognizes their oneness with consciousness . However, when these notions are perceived as separate and real, it leads to ignorance and suffering . The movement itself, which gives rise to the egosense, is an illusion—no more real than the dance of a barren woman’s son , an impossible event. In the light of right understanding, these movements dissolve, and the egosense ceases to exist. To transcend the egosense and achieve samadhi (superconscious state), one must engage in constant self-enquiry, questioning, "Who am I?" and "How has this world arisen?" This enquiry leads to the realization that the 'I' does not exist independently, and such ...

Day 271 -  Vasistha's Teachings on Self-Knowledge and Worldly Existence The Paradox of External Actions and Inner Peace Vasistha instructed Rama to perceive all actions as expressions of pure consciousness. He explained that one can live with an outward appearance of being engaged in worldly affairs—participating in celebrations, sharing in grief, acquiring wealth, or fighting battles—while remaining internally unaffected . The key is to inwardly rest in the bliss of the self and realize that the self remains unchanged by external circumstances. Despite outward appearances of joy or sorrow, one who is rooted in self-knowledge is free from the internal experience of such emotions. Vasistha emphasized that while engaging in life’s activities, a wise person should behave appropriately according to societal norms but should remain deeply aware of the non-dual nature of reality . This allows the individual to experience the world without being bound by it. He likened the self to somet...

Day 270 -Manki’s Realization: The Illusion of Desire and Suffering Manki’s Struggle with Desire Manki, a pilgrim, wandered through the world in search of someone who could relieve him of his doubts. Despite his efforts, he found no one capable of helping him. Upon meeting the sage Vasistha , he realized that he had obtained the highest blessing of finding wisdom. Manki expressed his anguish: the world, full of temporary pleasures and sorrows, ultimately leads only to suffering. Even those who experience prosperity eventually fall into misery. His mind was filled with delusions and sinful tendencies, driven by an insatiable craving for pleasure that never found fulfillment. Despite recognizing the futility of these desires, his heart remained restless, plagued by ignorance and confusion. Manki lamented that the knowledge of the scriptures had failed to dispel the darkness within him, and he sought Vasistha's guidance on what would truly be beneficial for him. Vasistha’s Response: Th...

Day 269 - The Cosmic Person and Creation: The Illusion of Egosense Vasistha’s Wisdom to Rama The cosmic person is nothing more than a concept, a manifestation of consciousness. Whatever thoughts this cosmic person entertains materialize into the world we perceive, embodied in the five elements of nature. To the wise, the entire world is simply an expansion of notions. This cosmic person, or Brahman , is the original cause of all creation, and the effect—this world—shares the same nature as its cause. However, all of this happens within consciousness , not in some unconscious space. From the smallest to the largest beings, including the gods, everything in the universe arises from the original thought in the cosmic consciousness. Just as a mighty tree grows from a tiny seed, the universe expands from a subatomic particle, though both large and small are illusions. The jiva (individual self) continues to exist, not limited by these elements but veiled by its identification with them. T...

Day 268: The Story of Indra's Realization of Brahman The Cosmic Awareness and Dissolution of the Ego Introduction Bhusunda continues his discourse, recounting the story of a ruler of heaven, Indra, who sought to break free from the cycle of birth and death. Through meditation and self-realization, Indra discovered the truth about Brahman—the infinite, omnipresent consciousness that permeates everything. Bhusunda also elaborates on the illusory nature of the world-appearance ( maya ) and how the ego-sense ( ahamkara ) binds individuals to this illusion. He concludes by explaining how deep meditation can lead to emancipation, as demonstrated by a celestial being who attains immortality. Indra's Journey of Realization Bhusunda begins by narrating the story of a king of the gods, Indra, who sought to escape the endless cycle of birth and death. Though he ruled the heavens, Indra was deeply determined to find liberation. Following the guidance of Brhaspati, the preceptor of the gods...

Day 267 - The Story of Bhusunda's Wisdom: Transcending the Illusion of Ego and Creation 1. The Origins of Illusion: Bhusunda’s Teachings The celestial being, eager for liberation, approaches the ancient sage Bhusunda for guidance. Bhusunda praises the celestial for his spiritual awakening and readiness for wisdom, and begins to explain the nature of reality. Bhusunda tells him that what we perceive as "I" and "the other" are mere illusions. The idea of individuality does not exist in truth. When we search for the origins of the ego and the world, we find nothing substantial. The world appears to arise from ignorance, yet ignorance itself is born from the world. Both are part of the same illusion. In reality, only the infinite consciousness, Brahman , exists, while the world-appearance is like a mirage—neither fully real nor fully unreal. The seed of this world-appearance is the egosense —the feeling of being a separate "I." This ego gives rise to the ...

Day 266 - The Story of Liberation: The Teachings of Vasistha The Nature of the Self and the Universe Vasistha begins by explaining to Rama the profound truth about the universe and the self. He says that everything in the universe is essentially the same—the pure, non-dual consciousness. This self, which is the basis of all existence, is the only reality. There is no separate "I" or "mine" apart from this supreme self. Rama, curious about the need to perform good actions and avoid evil if everything is essentially one, asks Vasistha for more clarification. Vasistha responds by asking Rama to consider what "action" really is. Actions, he says, arise from the body and are connected to the cycle of worldly existence, called samsara . Our actions, thoughts, and habits are rooted in the mind, and the mind itself comes from the conditioned consciousness (jiva). Ultimately, the root of all things is Brahman , the unconditioned reality. Thus, every action we do is...

Day 265 - The Essence of Liberation: The Teachings of Vasistha to Rama 1. Ignorance and Liberation Valmiki begins by discussing the nature of ignorance and how it leads to suffering. Ignorant individuals, trapped in the illusion of worldly existence (samsara), experience fleeting happiness amidst their sorrows. In contrast, the enlightened are always in a state of bliss and joy, unaffected by external events. Despite the apparent reality of the world, the self (consciousness) remains untouched by ignorance. Valmiki emphasizes that while evil karma binds the ignorant, worship, self-effort, and contemplation of the absolute can lead one to liberation. 2. The Path to Inner Peace Valmiki continues by prescribing practical steps for those seeking peace and control over the mind. He recommends meditation, pranayama (breath control), and the gradual withdrawal of the senses from external objects. Through self-enquiry, one must trace the origin of the body, senses, mind, and intellect and ret...

Day 264 - T he Story of Iksvaku and the Seven Stages of Yoga 1. The Story of Iksvaku Vasistha, the sage, begins by recounting the story of Iksvaku , an ancient king, who, like Rama , sought liberation from the cycle of samsara (birth, death, and rebirth). Iksvaku, unsure of how to free himself from suffering, approached his father Manu , the son of Brahma, for guidance. Manu explained that the world does not truly exist as it appears. It is merely a reflection of pure consciousness. There is neither bondage nor liberation; only the one, infinite consciousness exists. What appears as the universe is but a projection or illusion, like waves in the ocean or rays of the sun. The individual soul (jiva) is created when consciousness begins to form concepts, which give rise to the world appearance and suffering. Only by realizing the self and abandoning the illusion of the material world can one attain liberation. Through these teachings, Iksvaku attained enlightenment, shedding his worldly a...

Day 263 - Recognizing the Nature of Enlightenment Rama asks Vasistha how one recognizes the qualities of an enlightened mind (satva) when the egosense is dissolved. Vasistha explains that an enlightened mind is free from negative emotions such as greed, delusion, and anger. Such a person delights in the prosperity of others and maintains equanimity, even when faced with pleasure, pain, or adversity. They are free from attachment and possess a mind that remains calm and unaffected by external circumstances. The enlightened are not swayed by worldly contradictions and live in peace, seeing through the illusions of the material world. The Origin of the World: Manu's Wisdom Vasistha tells the story of Iksvaku , Rama's ancestor, who sought answers about the origin of the world and the nature of samsara. Manu , Iksvaku's father, explained that what is seen as the world is merely a reflection in the infinite self, created by the inherent energy of cosmic consciousness. Manu teache...

Day 262 - The Story of Kaca and the Lessons on Renunciation and Liberation Kaca’s Journey to Enlightenment After listening to the tale of Sikhidhvaja, Rama inquires about Kaca, the son of Brhaspati, who also attained enlightenment. Vasistha recounts Kaca's path, which mirrors the journey of Sikhidhvaja. Kaca, eager to be liberated from the cycle of birth and death (samsara), approached his father Brhaspati and asked how he could achieve freedom. Brhaspati simply told him, "Renounce everything." Kaca, taking this advice seriously, retreated to the forest and performed intense austerities for eight years. Despite his efforts, he did not find peace. When he returned to his father for guidance, Brhaspati repeated his advice, emphasizing total renunciation. Kaca interpreted this to mean he needed to renounce even his bodily attachments, so he discarded his clothing and continued his austerities for another three years. Still unable to find enlightenment, Kaca sought his father...

 Day 261 -  Cudala's Final Test and Sikhidhvaja's Enlightenment After creating a series of magical illusions to test her husband, Cudala (still disguised as Kumbha) wanted to assess whether Sikhidhvaja could be tempted by the forces of attraction and repulsion. One night, Cudala used her powers to conjure a beautiful garden and an enticing scene where she, in the guise of Madanika, was in an intimate embrace with another man. Despite witnessing this scene, Sikhidhvaja remained composed and unaffected, even politely leaving the scene without anger or jealousy. When Madanika, feeling ashamed, approached him later, Sikhidhvaja responded with great calm and understanding. He showed no resentment, remarking that he recognized the natural tendencies of people and was beyond such emotions. Impressed with his response, Cudala finally revealed her true identity, shedding her disguises and showing herself as his wife, Cudala. Sikhidhvaja's Realization and Gratitude Sikhidhvaja was in...

Day 260 - Sikhidhvaja’s Spiritual Transformation and Cudala’s Test Sikhidhvaja Awakens to True Peace After awakening Sikhidhvaja from his deep meditative state, Cudala (in the form of Kumbha) reassured him that there was no need for sorrow, as the self is untouched by bodily transformations. Sikhidhvaja expressed his gratitude for Kumbha’s guidance, noting that he had finally reached the "other shore of samsara" and was now free from all cravings and desires. He had transcended all dualities, realizing that nothing exists but the self —neither satva (purified mind), nor duality, nor attachment. Cudala's Plan to Awaken His Desires Though Sikhidhvaja had attained a state of peace, Cudala, still disguised as Kumbha, began to consider how to rekindle the natural desires within him. She believed that a liberated sage, while free from attachment, should not suppress the natural functions of the body. She realized that her feelings of affection for her husband remained and deci...

Day 259 - The Realization of True Freedom: Sikhidhvaja’s Awakening Sikhidhvaja’s Liberation Sikhidhvaja, enlightened by Kumbha’s guidance, realized his delusion had vanished, and wisdom had emerged within him. He proclaimed that his ocean of illusion had been crossed, leaving him at peace, free from the false notion of "I," and filled with pure knowledge. Kumbha responded by reaffirming that, in truth, there is no "I" or "you." Everything is Brahman , the ultimate reality, and words like "world" or "I" are empty notions . When one understands the insubstantiality of these ideas, what we once called the "world" is recognized as Brahman itself. The concept of bondage and liberation is tied to how one interprets the idea of self. Thinking "I am" creates bondage, while realizing "I am not" brings liberation. In the awareness of this truth, all notions subside, and only perfection remains. The Illusion of Ca...

Day 258 -  The Nature of Reality and Illusion Creation as an Illusion Kumbha explained that there is no  real creation  in Brahman. Just as gold might give rise to ornaments, Brahman does not produce anything from itself. It remains at peace, untouched by creation. The world we see is merely an  experience  with no substance or reality behind it. Thus, the  world  and the  ego-sense  are not real; only  infinite consciousness  exists. Sikhidhvaja, still seeking clarity, asked why the world and ego-sense seem to exist if they are unreal. Kumbha explained that the  infinite consciousness  is the underlying reality, and what we perceive as the world is simply its  expanded form , appearing like a body. There is no other substance—everything is pure  experiencing consciousness . Just as water is inseparable from its liquidity, so consciousness and unconsciousness exist together, without any contradiction. No Cause, N...

Day 257 -  The Nature of Reality and Illusion: Sikhidhvaja's Questions and Kumbha's Answers The Illusion of Sorrow and the Unreal Nature of the World Sikhidhvaja asked Kumbha why, if everything from the Creator to the material world is unreal, does real sorrow exist. Kumbha explained that sorrow, like everything else, is a result of delusion . It expands and solidifies through repeated affirmation—just like water turning into ice. This solidified illusion gives rise to experiences like sorrow. Once ignorance is dispelled, the original state of unity is revealed, and the perception of diversity disappears, leading to the realization that all suffering was merely an illusion. Kumbha emphasized that the Creator and creation are not real entities, just appearances born of ignorance. The diversity we experience in life is like a mirage—unreal, and once examined, it disappears. Therefore, the supreme consciousness is pure, and the idea of a Creator or creation is unfounded. Is Brah...

Day 256 - The Parable of the Elephant and the Pit contd... Understanding the Illusory Nature of Experience Sikhidhvaja still struggled, admitting that he couldn’t understand how ignorance arose within pure consciousness. He couldn’t figure out how to free himself from this impurity, as it seemed to return even when he renounced it. Cudala asked him to look deeper into the nature of  experience . The cause of the ego-sense and ignorance, she explained, is rooted in experience itself. But if the body and the world are illusions, then so are the experiences tied to them. Understanding the illusory nature of experience is key to breaking free from it. The Path to Liberation Sikhidhvaja expressed confusion, asking how something so tangible as the body could be unreal. Cudala clarified that just like the second moon seen by someone with double vision is not real, the body and the world are delusions created by ignorance. The realization of this truth would help the king overcome his atta...