Day 267 - The Story of Bhusunda's Wisdom: Transcending the Illusion of Ego and Creation

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 tree of world-appearance, including everything we experience: objects, time, space, and identity. When the ego is thoroughly examined, it is found to be non-existent. This realization is true knowledge. Once the ego is seen as unreal, it is burned away by the fire of wisdom, and the world-appearance vanishes along with it.

2. Consciousness and the Destruction of the Ego

Bhusunda explains that the entire universe is nothing but an expansion of thoughts and notions arising in consciousness. The world we perceive is based on our ideas and projections. Just as gold remains unchanged whether it's in the form of a bracelet or a nugget, consciousness remains the same, even when it appears as the diverse objects of the world.

He urges the celestial to realize that objects of desire, the senses, and the ego are nothing more than manifestations of ignorance. When one inquires deeply into the nature of the self, these false notions dissolve. The appearance of the world is nothing but an optical illusion resting on the foundation of consciousness.

3. The Nature of Inertia and Consciousness

Bhusunda continues by discussing inertia (or unconsciousness) and its relationship with consciousness. He explains that inertia arises within consciousness, though the two seem dissimilar. Just as the wind can both fan a fire and extinguish it, consciousness promotes both awareness and inertia. Once one realizes the falseness of the ego, the mind merges back into pure consciousness, which is the state of Brahman—incomparable and beyond duality.

Brahman, Bhusunda says, is everywhere. In every atom, blade of grass, and being, there is only this infinite consciousness. By realizing this truth, one transcends all illusion and attains liberation.

4. The Supreme State: Beyond Pleasure and Pain

Bhusunda teaches that a true sage sees no difference between pleasure and pain. For the enlightened, whether facing sharp weapons or temptations, the response is the same—calmness and equanimity. One should continue spiritual practice until external objects provoke no more reaction than they would in sleep. This state is the realization that consciousness remains unaffected by experiences and is beyond birth and death.

He emphasizes that the self (or jiva) takes on the characteristics of consciousness while still being inherently free of any change or death. It is like poison that, though harmful, remains poison. Similarly, consciousness, though manifesting as the ego, does not lose its nature as pure, undivided awareness.

5. The Illusory Nature of Creation

Bhusunda explains that the entire world-appearance is like a reflection or an image on a canvas. The world seems real only because of our notions and thoughts, which color our perception of reality. However, when these notions are examined, they are revealed to be nothing more than ideas without substance. The world is like a dream, experienced only by the dreamer.

He continues by saying that this world-appearance arises when consciousness interacts with itself, giving rise to the illusion of time, space, and objects. But, just as ripples arise in water without affecting the water itself, so too does the illusion of creation arise in consciousness without changing its true nature.

6. The Legend of Indra in the Subatomic World

To illustrate the illusory nature of reality, Bhusunda narrates an ancient legend about Indra, the king of the gods. Once, Indra was pursued by demons and, in his escape, assumed a subtle form and entered a subatomic particle. Inside this particle, Indra found peace and created a vast universe for himself, complete with a city, a nation, and other beings. He ruled this universe and passed down his throne to his descendants.

Bhusunda explains that this legend shows how entire worlds can exist within the smallest particle of existence, created entirely by consciousness. The universe we perceive is similarly an illusion, existing only within the mind that creates it. Indra's entire kingdom was nothing more than a projection within the subatomic particle—proving that reality is shaped by consciousness, and the external world is not as it seems.

7. Transcending the World of Illusion

Bhusunda concludes by reminding the celestial that the mind, ego, and intellect are all products of ignorance. This ignorance can be dispelled through self-effort, study of the scriptures, and the company of wise beings. Half of the ignorance is dispelled by the company of the holy ones, a quarter by self-study, and the rest by diligent self-effort.

He further emphasizes that the world-appearance does not rely on actual time and space but exists solely within the mind’s activity. This world, built by mental constructs, is like a dream experienced by the dreamer. As one wakes up from the dream, the world-appearance vanishes, leaving only the pure, infinite consciousness of Brahman.

Conclusion: The End of Illusion

Bhusunda’s teachings help the celestial realize that both time and space are illusory and that true liberation comes from recognizing that all notions of individuality and the world are mere mental constructs. When the ego dissolves, the world-appearance disappears, and one realizes the ultimate truth: only Brahman, the infinite consciousness, exists.

By internalizing this wisdom, the celestial learns that true freedom lies not in the pursuit of sensory experiences but in the dissolution of the ego and the realization of the non-dual nature of reality.