Day 286 - Pancha Tatva Dharana

Day 286 - Pancha Tatva Dharana 

In this passage from The Yoga Vasistha, the sage Vasistha continues to share his insights with Rama, exploring the nature of the elements and consciousness through the experiences of meditative absorption (dharana) in each element. Here's a summary and explanation of the key ideas:

1. The Reality of the Earth (Parthiva Dharana):

• Rama’s Inquiry: Rama asks whether Vasistha’s experiences of the earth were real or merely mental constructs. Vasistha replies that they were indeed mental experiences, and yet they seemed real because consciousness itself had assumed the form of the earth. He explains that the earth is a mental construct arising in consciousness. Through persistent contemplation, this mental notion seems to solidify into a material reality.

• Consciousness as the Basis of Perception: Vasistha emphasizes that the earth appears real because it is pervaded by the mind, but ultimately, it is nothing but consciousness itself. He suggests that just as a crystal reflects colors without changing its own nature, the infinite consciousness reflects the universe within itself. Thus, the earth is neither purely mental nor material—it is simply consciousness appearing as form.

2. Experiences in the Water Element (Water Dharana):

• Transformation into Water: By contemplating water, Vasistha experiences himself as the water element. He describes dwelling in various forms and functions of water—such as rivers, rain, dew, and even the sap within plants. He also experiences being the taste in water, residing in the mouths of living beings, and flowing through the bodies of plants and animals.

• Consciousness as the True Experiencer: Vasistha highlights that the experience of taste or being the water itself happens within consciousness and is therefore ultimately illusory. The experiences are real in the sense that they are known to consciousness, but there is no independent material existence apart from consciousness.

3. Experiences in the Fire Element (Teja Dharana):

• Becoming the Element of Fire: Through the contemplation of fire, Vasistha experiences himself as the fire element, which is associated with light, heat, and transformation. He describes becoming the radiance in jewels, the heat in the sun, the flame of a lamp, and the energy of passion in beings.

• The Nature of Suffering and Joy in Elemental Experiences: Rama asks if Vasistha experienced happiness or unhappiness while being the fire element. Vasistha explains that even when consciousness identifies with inert elements like fire or earth, it retains its true nature as consciousness. He suggests that the sense of being asleep or insentient is itself a part of conscious experience. As long as one recognizes their true nature as consciousness, experiences of materiality do not cause suffering.

4. The Air Element (Vayu Dharana):

• Assuming the Role of Air: Vasistha describes his experiences as the air element, involving movement, sound transmission, cooling, and supporting life. He mentions carrying scents in pleasure gardens, fanning the flames of fire, and sustaining life in beings as the breath.

• The Infinite and Subatomic Nature of Air: Even while experiencing being the vast atmosphere and its functions, Vasistha perceives within each molecule of air an entire universe. He notes that these worlds contain all the elements and beings just like the larger universe does, yet they are illusory—mere notions in the cosmic void.

• Simultaneous Experiences of Form and Formlessness: Vasistha emphasizes the paradox of being both everywhere and nowhere, experiencing both existence and non-existence. Even as the air element pervaded everything, Vasistha remained aware of his true nature as pure consciousness.

5. The Nature of Experience and Reality:

• Illusory Perception in Elemental Forms: Throughout these elemental experiences, Vasistha emphasizes the dream-like and illusory nature of reality. The experiences of form (elements) and phenomena (actions) arise within consciousness, but they have no independent reality apart from consciousness itself. This is similar to how objects in a dream have no material substance.

• Consciousness as the Substrate of All Phenomena: Whether Vasistha identifies as earth, water, fire, or air, he realizes that these identities are simply expressions of consciousness. There is no separation between the experiencer (subject) and the experience (object). Everything exists within consciousness as an interconnected whole.

6. The Infinite Universes within Universes:

• Fractal Nature of Creation: Vasistha describes experiencing universes within every atom and even within the atoms of those universes. This fractal-like nature of existence illustrates that reality is infinite and interconnected. Each part reflects the whole, and every particle contains the potential for entire worlds to emerge.

• The Inseparability of Form and Void: Despite experiencing countless forms and activities, Vasistha understands that he remains pure void—consciousness itself. The play of forms, elements, and experiences does not alter the underlying reality of non-dual awareness.

Conclusion:

The teachings highlight that the experiences of different elements—earth, water, fire, and air—are all mental constructs arising within the infinite consciousness. Each element’s experiences provide insights into the nature of existence and reality, revealing that all forms and phenomena are mere reflections within consciousness. Ultimately, Vasistha points to the non-dual truth that consciousness alone exists, and the diversity of creation is simply a dance of notions arising within it.