Day 295 - The Story of Samsara and the Infinite Illusion

Day 295 - The Story of Samsara and the Infinite Illusion

Visvamitra continued to reflect on the nature of samsara and the endless cycles of birth and death that bind souls in illusion.

Endless Wandering in Samsara

Visvamitra shared with King Bhasa the story of a king who had wandered in samsara for over a million years without finding liberation. Like countless others, this king was preoccupied with worldly pursuits and the investigation of material objects. He wandered ceaselessly, never turning away from the illusion of samsara. Visvamitra compared the creation to little ants moving on the surface of a ball, endlessly circling without ever finding the "end" of the earth.

The Three Princes of Vatadhana

In the kingdom of Vatadhana, three princes resolved to explore the limits of the earth. They examined countless objects on land and sea, taking birth after birth to pursue their goal. However, like ants on a ball, they merely wandered from one place to another, never reaching the earth's true end. Their journey exemplified the endless illusion of samsara, which arises as a notion in infinite consciousness and appears to be infinite itself.

The Nature of Infinite Consciousness

Visvamitra explained that the supreme Brahman and the essence of all notions are identical, both being pure consciousness. The world, as experienced, is merely an appearance within this infinite consciousness, much like currents and whirlpools on the surface of water are nothing but water. The infinite consciousness manifests the world without intending to, appearing in countless forms and experiencing itself through these forms.

Bhasa's Past Experiences

Bhasa, formerly Vipascit, recounted his numerous incarnations across different worlds and forms:

• He lived as a tree for a thousand years, producing flowers and fruits without mental activity.
• For a hundred years, he was a golden-colored deer on Mount Meru, enjoying music.
• As a powerful, eight-legged sarabha creature, he lived for fifty years.
• He then became a celestial being (vidyadhara) and later the son of the swan vehicle of Brahma, living for fifteen hundred years.
• After listening to divine music as a celestial, he incarnated as a jackal, then as a nymph cursed to live alone for half an epoch.
• Bhasa continued to recount his transformations, including living as a bird, an ascetic, and experiencing worlds where he saw incredible phenomena, like a realm entirely made of water and a woman whose body reflected the three worlds.

The Wonder of Creation

Bhasa spoke of witnessing countless extraordinary scenes:

• He saw a world covered in darkness, with entire villages flying away to distant realms.
• He encountered beings who were self-luminous, existing in a realm without sun, moon, or stars.
• He observed strange phenomena, such as a world without directions, days, nights, or scriptures.
• Bhasa experienced great mountains shining with their own light, captivating the hearts of sages.

The Colossal Shadow and Divine Intervention

Bhasa recounted a terrifying encounter where he saw a gigantic shadow descending upon a world, blocking out the sun and causing widespread destruction. Overcome by fear, he entered a sacred fire for protection, where the fire-god reassured him. Together, they escaped through a small opening in the colossal body that had fallen.

The Dance of the Divine Mother

As the world lay in chaos, sages, celestial beings, and the divine mother Kalaratri appeared. She, accompanied by goblins, began to consume the life force from the enormous corpse, dancing and swirling her divine weapons. The world was left in a state of utter devastation, with mountains gone, oceans agitated, and cities destroyed. Even the celestial gods were left wondering where the earth and its landmarks had disappeared.

The Illusion of Samsara and the Infinite Cycle

Rama asked how the mountains and the rest of the world could still be visible when the corpse covered the earth. Vasistha explained that the corpse did not entirely obscure the Lokaloka mountains, which could still be seen over its shoulders. The gods lamented the loss of the beautiful earth and all its wonders, mourning the vanished continents, forests, and rivers.

The Samsara of Samsara

Visvamitra used the story of Bhasa and the wandering princes to illustrate that samsara is an endless cycle of illusion arising within the infinite consciousness. Though the experiences within it may seem real, they are simply projections of consciousness, much like dreams during sleep. The wandering of beings is fueled by mental conditioning and attachment to worldly experiences, trapping them in the cycles of birth and death.

The Power of Perception and the Path to Liberation

The true essence of all experiences is infinite consciousness itself. When beings understand the illusory nature of samsara and recognize the supreme Brahman as their own true self, they can free themselves from this endless wandering. The story encourages the pursuit of self-knowledge over material exploration, guiding one towards the realization of non-duality and liberation from samsara.