Day 269 - The Cosmic Person and Creation: The Illusion of Egosense

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.

The key to moksha (liberation) is understanding that the jiva is independent of the elements and the egosense. When one destroys the ignorance that veils the jiva’s true nature, emancipation is attained.

True Knowledge and Pseudo-Knowledge

Vasistha warns of the danger of being a pseudo-jñānī—someone who studies spiritual texts for pleasure or material gain but does not live the teachings. Such a person’s knowledge is superficial and does not reflect true wisdom. A true jñānī (wise one) lives with minimal attachment, sustaining life only to acquire knowledge that frees them from sorrow.

The wise one is indifferent to the results of their actions, fully established in self-knowledge, free from conditioning and perversion. Their actions are spontaneous and without desire, and they live simply, eating and dressing without mental agitation. The ignorant may extol actions dictated by the scriptures because they are spiritually asleep, while the wise transcend such actions, realizing their inner freedom.

The World as an Illusion

Creation is an optical illusion, much like a mirage. The wise perceive the world not as a separate reality but as an extension of their own consciousness. This illusion disappears when it is investigated and seen for what it truly is: Brahman. Even the jiva—the conditioned self—when correctly understood, is seen as none other than the supreme self.

The world appears in the minds of the unenlightened as real, just as a city is reflected in a mirror, although the mirror itself remains unaltered. The world, time, and space are not independent realities but arise from the egosense, the feeling of separateness. When one realizes the illusory nature of this egosense, they are freed from the cycle of birth and death.

The Jiva’s Role in Creation

The jiva arises from infinite consciousness and experiences the world through its own notions. As it identifies with the senses and mind, it builds the concept of time, space, and substance, living in a body while forgetting its true nature. This forgetfulness traps the jiva in the cycle of birth and death, but through inquiry and self-realization, it can return to its original state—Brahman.

The jiva experiences the world through the senses, yet when it realizes its true nature as consciousness, all notions of separateness dissolve. The wise know that this world is merely a projection of thought, and when those thoughts cease, the jiva becomes one with Brahman, transcending all duality.

Manki’s Story: The Path to Emancipation

During his travels, Vasistha encountered Manki, a wayfarer weary of the world and its illusions. Manki sought relief from the burdens of worldly life but was wandering in the wrong direction, seeking comfort among the ignorant. Vasistha explained to Manki that the company of the ignorant leads only to sorrow and destruction, much like trying to quench thirst with salty water.

Vasistha encouraged Manki to seek the company of the wise, explaining that through self-enquiry and detachment from the world, one could attain true peace. He assured Manki that dispassion had already begun to grow in his heart and that he was on the verge of emancipation. By removing the veils of ignorance, the truth would shine, and the illusion of the world would dissolve.

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This narrative offers a profound understanding of consciousness, the illusion of the world, and the path to liberation through wisdom and self-inquiry. True knowledge transcends the superficial pursuit of scriptures and rituals and leads to the realization that the world is an illusion projected by the mind. Only by dissolving the egosense and seeing the world as an extension of Brahman can one attain true peace and liberation.