Day 271 - Vasistha's Teachings on Self-Knowledge and Worldly Existence

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 something invincible, unaffected by weapons, fire, water, or wind, and encouraged Rama to cling to the realization of his indestructible nature.

Silence: The Ultimate Response

When Rama inquired further about the nature of the self and asked how Vasistha identified himself, Vasistha fell silent. When pressed for an answer, Vasistha explained that silence is the only fitting response to such a question. He elaborated that there are two types of questioners: the ignorant and the enlightened. For the ignorant, intellectual answers are necessary to address their doubts, but for the enlightened, such answers are meaningless.

Vasistha highlighted that all verbal expressions are tainted with duality, whereas the truth transcends duality and cannot be captured by words. For a person like Rama, who had already attained the supreme state of consciousness, silence was the only valid response.

The Nature of the Self

Vasistha explained that he, like Rama, was nothing but pure consciousness, indivisible and beyond the experience of objects or thoughts. He pointed out that everything—whether animate or inanimate—is also this pure consciousness, which pervades the entire universe. When one speaks of the self, the act of expression creates the illusion of egosense and duality, but in reality, there is only one indivisible consciousness.

This consciousness is like space: it cannot be divided, yet within it, the illusion of division arises. Vasistha noted that nirvana (liberation) is attained when the mind ceases to identify with these divisions, and one realizes that there is no "I," "you," or "other." The self simply is.

Overcoming Egosense and Reaching Nirvana

Vasistha further explained that the egosense is the root of all delusion and suffering, and it can only be overcome through self-enquiry and wisdom. When one realizes that the egosense is nothing but a mental construct, the bondage of samsara (worldly existence) falls away. The mind, intellect, and ego are all modifications of the same pure consciousness, and they arise as mere notions.

When the mind ceases to entertain these notions, the subject (the self) and the object (the world) merge into one. At this point, all distinctions between real and unreal vanish, and what remains is the supreme peace of the self.

Engaging in the World Without Attachment

Vasistha explained that once self-knowledge is attained, one can live in the world while remaining inwardly detached. Such a person is like a sculptured image, unaffected by the world around them. Even while engaged in activities, the sage is not swayed by desires or attachments, remaining at peace and free from sorrow.

The illusion of the world and its various forms arises due to the movement of consciousness, but this movement is itself illusory. Just as cloud formations in the sky appear real but are temporary, so too is the world an illusion projected by consciousness. By realizing that the self alone exists, one attains fearlessness and freedom.

Enquiry Dispels Illusion

Vasistha advised that enquiry into the nature of the self and the world dispels the illusion of separation and division. When one investigates deeply, the world-appearance dissolves, and what remains is the undivided consciousness. He likened the world to a hallucination, where once its nature is understood, it no longer holds any power.

By practicing self-enquiry and ceasing to entertain thoughts of duality, one can realize the supreme peace of the self. The enlightened person sees through the illusions of the world, understanding that all appearances are void. Such a person lives without attachment, neither seeking nor avoiding action, resting firmly in the truth of their nature.

Conclusion: The Unity of All

Vasistha concluded by reaffirming that the individual self and the world are not separate from the supreme consciousness. The notion of objects arises within the self, but these objects have no independent existence. Once the mind is freed from all notions and conditioning, the sage perceives everything as the one self, free from duality.