Yoga Vasistha 1

WHO AM I?-YOGA VASISTHA-Commentary and Translation

by Swami Shyamendra Paramahansa

(For more catalog items write: [email protected] - published by The Antarbrahmandiya Sanskriti Kendra.)

Upasama Prakarana SectionThese wonderful discourses of Sage Vasistha showered nectar in the hearts of all listeners. Their happy faces looked like bloomed lotuses of autumn. As soon as Vasistha stopped, pin-drop silence spread. Ladies kept glancing unwinkingly at the stage where Sri Rama along with his brothers were sitting with Sage Vasistha alongside King Dasaratha and Sage Visvamitra. Everyone offered their respect and left for night rest.

In the night Sri Rama began his contemplation--

--Who is the wanderer in this world dream?

--From where all these beings have come and where do they go?

--What is the nature of mind? How will it have peace?

--From where arises the maya? How is it destroyed?

--How ego enters in our interactions?

--Like an alligator grabbed a mighty elephant world has captured the human soul; how could it be freed?

--Fallen into the spider web of illusion of "I, my, me" all are suffering; what is the remedy?

--This ghost of world-appearance is becoming heavier and heavier, harder and harder. In the clouds of sensual necessities my intuition and insights are getting lost; what is the remedy?

--When will I attain peace?

--When shall I find eternal rest in my true Self?

--Oh, when I will drop my burning fever of "I, my, me" notions?

--When will my mind stay calm like a flame in an airless room?

--When I shall be separate from this stinky body?

--Intellect you are my sister. You memorize exactly what Gurudev has said. First, was dispassion. Second was liberation interaction. Third was origin. Fourth was maintenance. Remember them over and over. Unless decided firmly all actions are fruitless.

The cloud of autumn appears great but contains no water, and therefore fruitless. So also without bearing the information in one's heart, without upholding the knowledge in mind, nothing succeeds.

Contemplating thus, Prince Rama entered into deep state of Mystic trance. It fulfilled the need of sleep. Night passed. Morning raga echoed. After bath in holy Sarayu river all brothers came to Sage Vasistha's ashram.

It was still predawn darkness prevailing. Sage was absorbed deep in meditation. All brothers offered their obeisances and stood folded hands. As sunrays spread goldenizing all the directions, kings, princes and Sages arrived from many directions. Sage opened his eyes... all offered obeisances. Sage blessed them all.

Then holding the hands of Sage Visvamitra, Vasistha rode on the royal chariot and came to King Dasaratha's palace. Among great jubilation they all took delicious breakfast, then came to the Royal assembly, sat on a golden throne, Sri Rama in his front. All members after them. Sunrays peeped in, lotuses blossomed, perfumes spread, ladies sat on the balcony and King Dasaratha said:

"Holy Sire, just like gems and jewels come out from the ocean, likewise great words of wisdom flow from you. Your words are eye openers which feel like ointment, shower of nectar, dispeller of darkness of ignorance. Please begin your dialogue, dispeller of darkness of ignorance. Please begin. We are ready." Then he turned to his son Sri Rama.

"My dear lotus eyed son Rama, as before, please ask whatever questions you have to the Sage which have been bothering you all along. Together with you we all will be sanctified hearing these wonderful narrations."

Seeing all eager to hear, Sage Vasistha looked at Sri Rama and began his discourse. King Janaka was very generous and patient. He was like a desire tree to the needy, like sunrise to the lotuses of friends and kinsmen, like spring season to the family members, like cupid to the ladies. He was like a full moon to the lily of divine experience. He has a most beautiful garden named Baga Tadag. After finishing his royal duties he entered the garden along with his close friends. It was a beautiful scene. Flowers were blooming, birds were chirping, peacocks dancing, cuckoos cooing, lotus perfume spreading with the coolness of the sparkling water-filled pond. King was absorbed in the loveliness of nature and moved alone in the dense bushes while friends stayed near the temple conversing with each other.

While he was lost in beauty of flowers, clear sky, green trees and singing birds, he heard a new extraordinary song in his sanskrit.

"Oh, how wonderful, it is now I see the bliss which is felt in intellect by union of sight and the seer and separation of the unwanted and achievement of most desirous is not at all from anywhere else but from my own Self." One song completed.

"Oh my, please get off, rise above the seer, seeing and sight along with passion of desperation. Before the seeing which is illustrious, through light of whom all are lit I meditate on that experience of Self." Second Siddha sang.

"That which is spotless, reflectionless, beyond mind, nature of non-dual pure existence I meditate on that." Sang the third.

"The one which is in between seer and the seen, yes and no, is and not is one which is the very existence of all that is and lights the sun and the moon and all the eyes of the world I meditate upon that Self." Sang the fourth.

"The Supreme God who is sa in start and ha at end of name but truly is endless, eternal, bliss, residing in all hearts and feels to us in the form of ego. I meditate unto him."

"Those who avoid this Self go to other Lords with great expectations are looking for trash abandoning diamonds and sapphires." Sang the sixth Siddha.

"One who relinquishes all hopes he accomplishes and poisonous vines of hope are rooted out." Sang the seventh Siddha.

Hearing this song of Siddhas, King returned to his palace and went to the terrace and looking around the capital he became despondent. So much so that he began to cry. "Oh this mind has dropped me in this pit of body consciousness. Mind is a piece of ice, inert, hard, solid stone like. But by the heat of sun discretion it is melting away. Now I am who I was." Long time passed.

The maid came and said, "Please rise and take bath. Dusk is approaching fast. All maids are standing with pitchers in hand. Food is cooking in the kitchen. Perfume of ghee, cumin and hing frying is coming." King sank in long contemplation again. Then he got up and walked like a sleep figure. As if the world is too unimportant and unnecessary he would perform all his activities in total indifference but miracle it would be as efficient and skillful as any smartest men could have done it.

STORY OF PUNYA & PAVANA

On the top high hills of Mount Mahendra there was a town of sages -- like Hitaites or Amise. Its huge mountain peaks have gone all the way up to Bramhaloka. On that hill there was a Desire tree under which celestials used to rest. Fountains, parks, peacocks, cuckoos, swan soundings, deers leaping, birds chirping. All animals were enjoying the peace. Many sages lived in the valley.

There was a couple, Dirghatapa by name who had two most handsome sons -- Punya and Pavana. Punya was bright, Pavana was dull. They used to paly on the forest paths with other muni's sons.

After sometime the couple left their bodies. Panic arose in the heart of all the family Pavana was crying bitterly. After performing all the last rites on the fifteenth day, both brothers sat together.

"Dear brother, why do you cry? Our parents have gone to the planet of Bliss eternal. They have gone to greater joy. Neither anyone was your mother nor father, nor anyone will be. Out of ignorance upon many you assumed this relationship. Not only with them but with many others. You had thousands of mothers and thousands of fathers. Why don't you lament for them. It is a mirage. Brother, see neither you are nor world nor these sights. Toss away these from your heart. It is born out of your will. It is no truth. World is a river of mirage in the desert. It evolves innumerable waves of good and bad, auspicious and inauspicious, and submerges at last.

"As dust particles you see wavering in there so that many friends and parents you had before. All the tears you had shed for them, if we collect them, will make another Atlantic ocean. If we make one whole cemetery for them it will make a whole continent turn into a cemetery. For whom do you lament, what for, what do you derive?

"Many times you became a deer, you had parents and friends then also. Why don't you cry for them too? You were an elephant, you had a family then too. You were a tree once. Other trees were your kinsmen. You were a crocodile in a lake. In Dasarna State you were a crow. In Tusarna State you were a Prince. In Bengal you were an elephant, in Siberia you were a donkey. In Malava State you were a snake and a tree. In Kosal you were a bramhin. In China you were a business man. In Poland you were a woman. In Italy's Vatican garden you were a spiritual master. In England you became a king again in the Druid race. In Egypt you were a minister. In Gaul you were a laborer. In Himalayas you were a pond. In Kashmir you were a lotus in Dale lake.

Dear Brother, as passionate clinging you evolved in your mind strong enough to become your last thought at times of death those bodies you got. And there and there you became involved in them, instead of trying hard to get free. You developed relationships with wife, kids, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, their kids, keeping your prestige up you remained busy. Terribly busy. And that foolish busyness remained the matter of your dignity. Never you felt ashamed to say yourself is too busy to do the right thing to search for the Self. You remained dull and a dunce.

"Brother, me too like yourself, I also went on transmigrating body after body after body. In the same these forests I strolled as a camel. I remember being a tree, bird, swan, king, deer; you were then my elder brother, for ten years we lived together. But now I am awakened. I wish you too, wiping out your fantasy and illusion, be enlightened."

Hearing these wise words of his brother, Pavana also became enlightened. Then both hand in hand together strolled innumerable hills, dales and valleys. They rested under many trees, drank and ate beside many rivers. Traveled to many countries. At last when the oil is consumed, flame extinguishes, their individual Self became one with Cosmic-Self -- Bramha.

STORY OF KING BALIIn the subterranian regions the most beautiful and breaktaking place is Sutal loka. It is all white land with magnificent scenes and sights. There lived King Bali, the conquerer of all the worlds above and below. He enjoyed his government for eons and eons. He saw ages after ages passing. He saw the whole world whipping off and a new one being created and that too died, then came another new one. He became sorrowful upon the everchanging phase of the world. He developed a quest to know the never-changing aspect of Realty. He approached his Reverend Father who was a wiseman.

"There is a place, O dear son, upon which innumerable worlds appear, oceans, rivers, mountains, sun, moon and stars too. And there is one silent performer of all. He has a minister. He makes anyone and everyone his minister. His minister is invincible and powerful. Not even gods can subdue and control him. The minister does everything. King is silent. He always stays behind the curtain. Never comes out. Minister is too troublesome. He creates all problems. But as soon as one visits the king he troubles no more. It is impossible to win the heart of the minister without seeing the king. And without seeing the king it is impossible to please the minister. This catch-22 trap is always there.

One has to try for both simultaneously.

This place is known as Liberation. Self is the king. Mind is the minister. Conquering him one conquers the whole world. How to conquer mind?

This minister is intoxicated by joys of the five senses of perception... seeing various things, hearing music or sweet words, feeling nice touch, tasting, smelling nice smell etc. It is like an elephant drunk with this wine. When you withdraw your fascination from these five you encounter the aatmaa in the state of Mystic Trance (samadhi).

How to do it?

Close your eyes, that is conquering the eyes. Do not think of the past, that is conquering the rest of the senses. Do not worry. Just stay in the present. Relinquish sense gratifications. Then you see the king, the Self, and then the minister is okay; he never bothers.

Bali began practicing day in, day out. One day he felt to visit his spiritual master, Sage Shukra. He remembered him. And then Shukra appeared in front of his disciple. His heart bloomed with pleasure like a flower. He offered him a throne and worshipped him.

"Holy Sire, I would like to know who am I? Who are you and what is this world?" Bali asked.

"You are effulgence of consciousness. And what you are and what this whole world is is the same. This effulgence of consciousness is Bramha."

Bali wanted to ask and hear more but Shukra was in a hurry. He said, "I have an urgent emergency to peform so I am going right now to the milky way. I must be with seven Sages within moments. You should contemplate on this dictum. And I will come and we will talk." He took leave.

King Bali sat cross-legged, spine straight, eyes closed, and began contemplation... he entered into the Atlantic depths of Mystic Trance. Days, weeks, months and years rolled by and he didn't move. Like a curved statue he remained seated transcended and submerged into the Divine.

All ministers, family members, friends and VIPs, even great persons from other planets came, and with immense curiousity peeked inside through the gemmed window to see what he was doing. Great vidyadharas, nagas, Rambha and Tilotamaa came and watched. Some were joyous, others concerned, still others afraid.

Daityas (people of his race) remembered Sage Shukra, their spiritual master, who lived in his own planet in our Solar system. He can be contacted in times of need. Then in a short time there he appeared -- illustrious. All daityas offered a seat on the golden throne and worshipped him. He opened the door and silently walked in and along with him all people. He came close and became very happy to see that he truly understood his short message.

After full observation he informed all people -- that it is not proper to awaken him at this moment. Let him be in the laudable state. In time he will wake up on his own.

After one thousand celestial years King Bali opened his eyes. Then flowers showered, kettle drums echoed, and all people sang songs of joy and celebration.

The King opened his large eyes, looked around and wondered, "Oh, what happened? I was thrown out into a dry desert from the lands of bliss and love and peace... why?" Later, he thought, "Let me enter into meditation again." All the daityas ran down and bowed to him again and again. And with eyes filled with tears of love and request, asked him to stay with them and not leave.

Bali thought for awhile and said, "Okay." He stood up, took bath, wore fresh clothes, ate breakfast and began to take care of his royal duties. He acted then expecting nothing. He was doing the most important thing, the supreme welfare of the State and he was constantly busy. He was performing his duties according to dharma and most efficiently. He was doing all and everything the best, the superb, but as if doing nothing just existing.(footnote 1) This was his life.

THE STORY OF PRALHAD Among King Bali's ancestors, Hiranyakasupu was extremely powerful. The mystery of his power was his immense austerity. He had gone to Mount Mandar and stood on his one foot on his toe. Raising his hand up, staring at the sky, he meditated. By the power of his immense concentration, fire and smoke rose and spread from his head. It began scorching all directions. Rivers and the ocean began to boil. Earth and mountains began to shake. Planets and stars began to break and fall like fruit from the tree. Heat of very hot air spread all over the world. Planet Svah was scorched. They hurried to Bramhaa ji. He consoled them and himself came to Hiranya's hermitage. Bhrigu, Daksa and others too, joined him. They couldn't see him. All there was was clay, worms, grass and bamboo shoots which had covered him. Ants had eaten all his flesh, drank up all his blood. Only a skeleton was left, but still by his power he was scorching the whole world.

Bramhaa ji sprinkled holy water from his golden kamandalu, then as if fire would have lit up from trash and drain, he stood up all fresh, young with a golden rock-like body, very handsome and elegant. He bowed down and eulogized with heartfelt psalms of Samaveda.

"Varambruhi -- ask for benediction." Pleased, Bramhaa ji said at last.

"Give me, O Lord, immortality." He asked.

"Everyone who is born has to die some day." Bramhaa ji said.

"Okay, then let me not die by anyone from your creation. No man, no woman, no animal, no god, no cobra. Neither in day nor night, nor inside nor outside, nor by weapon, nor on earth nor in the sky. Give me all prosperity and power of the whole world."

"Evamastu -- so be it." He said and disappeared.

He came back, reinhabited his city which was smashed and ruined by attacks of his enemies in his absence. Mulasthan, nowadays Mulataan (in Pakistan) began shining and shimmering once again with unlimited wealth and enthusiasm. One by one he conquered all countries of the world. All the planets and stars. All great dignitaries of different planets were brought to do regular job s of servants. In his palace -- garnet stairs, crystal walls, diamond pillars, pearl chandeliers, amber chairs and white silk canopy spread moonshine all around. Nymphs walked dancing around ringing their anklets on gemmed floors of Hiranya's palace.

All celestials offered him tributes. He became so powerful that from the sky he would grab and eat himself the oblations offered on planet Earth on its way to be food for celestials, manes and other gods. Throughout all countries of the world his empire extended. Without plough, without seed-sowing, lands produced plentiful harvest.

Whatever he wished sky gave him all. Whenever he wished sky would turn itself into a vast television set and show everything he wished to see and know and entertain him daily. Oceans with rivers poured gems and jewels daily. Mountains and valleys created places for his amorous sports. Trees offered fruits all times of all seasons. Thousands of years passed this way. Hiranya became the supreme power in the entire cosmic egg.

He had a most beautiful wife, Kayaadhu was her name. He had four sons. The youngest was Pralhaada ji. He was calm, true to his word. He was so humble and serviceful to the holy men, to the poor affectionate like a father. Even in great trouble he would not go shaken. To the joys of the world and beyond he had no attraction.

One night he was sleeping on his diamond studded bed on soft milky silk under a moon white canopy. Perfume was spreading. His eyes were closed and he saw a magnificent man in his dream.

His lotus feet were shimmering with three lights -- reddish, white and blue. His soles had prints of lotus, conch, flag, gode and temple etc. Yellow silk edges touching -- immense light was pushing down off the darkness of ignorance from the heart. He saw his form as if made of live sapphire. His kneecaps, thighs, loin; his stomach, pearl necklaces covered chest, hands, neck, chin, cheeks, lips, lotus eyes, forehead, head and hair, crown and earrings. He had four hands holding conch, discus, club and lotus. And he was smiling; his nose, earrings reflecting upon his cheeks. Long eyebrows, large almost ear touching eyes. Compassion and love overflowed from his eyes.

bhrtya nu kampit dhiyeh grhit murteh

sanchintayet bhagavato vadanaravindam

yadvisphuran makar kundal valgiten

vidyotitamal kapol mudar nasam

hasam hare ravanatakhil loka tivra

sokasru sagar visosana matyudaram

His smiling spread and spread in and throughout the universe. Then he saw he is laughing. Oh such a gracious, elegant laughter as if drying up the oceans of tears of lamentation, so generous, so widehearted, so majestic is he. Then he saw his open deep belly laugh echoing and reechoing in the whole universe. His red lips as if imprinted red, his white teeth... Oh, Oh, and Pralhaad shouted, "O dear, O Beloved, O my Lord, I love you I love you." And he woke up. Since then a new life began.

Since then, playing with his friends, roaming in his palace, talking to his mom, learning in his school, he would suddenly enter into the trance of deep experience of love. He would be sitting in the park, in the garden, near the swimming pool and he would go still and silent and immovable. Submerged in meditation of that Lord of beauty. Sometimes he would experience that beautiful compassionate Lord has come and has assumed a small boy form, with peacock feather tucked crown on his long curly hair. Same yellow silk, same smile and grace. A small flute in his hands and lo, for him he is playing it and sweet, nectarine sound is echoing and reechoing. Pralhaad is lost in oblivion like his Radha.

Sometimes he would assume a different boy form of zircony light. Princely elegance, shining crown, yellow silk, gems and pearl necklaces, golden bow and arrow shimmering and nearby hibiscus perfuming. And he would sink in love and devotion. He felt he has so much love in his heart that he is embracing him. He is placing him in his lap.

Walking, talking, eating, drinking, studying, even while sleeping, he experienced the sweet ambrosial embrace of the Lord. Sometimes he felt Lord has gone away, away, so far away leaving him alone. And suddenly everything felt like a deserted, ruined, ghost haunted place of cemetery, even though he is in his so gorgeous palace, even though he is near his so compassionate mom, even though he is near his so powerful, rich and famous father. And he would feel so lonely that he would cry. At times he felt he was hiding in the nearby bushes and he came and he is standing right in front and he would become so happy that he would laugh loudly -- a belly laugh. Then he would sing songs of love too. Not only this he would begin to dance also. At times he would imitate him. He felt a soft, gentle loving touch in his heart and he would sit still and lost for hours. Other times he would go thrilled, tears streaming from his eyes.

One morning Pralhaad was visiting his father along with his two teachers, Sanda and Amarka. Hiranya was in in his royal assembly sitting on his billion dollar throne. He postponed all engagements and picked up his son and placed him on his lap and fondling his hair, asked.

"My dear son, tell me what is the best among all you studied so far?"

"The root cause of all agitation and irritation is I-ness and my-ness. Dropping it off like a dark well covered with grass, people of the world should do only one thing with all their heart," said Pralhaad.

"I see, what is that they should do, son?"

"Listening and reading the pastimes of the Lord, conversing and singing them, remembering them, serving them, worshipping, offering obeisances, meditating on his form and serving him as servant, playing with him like a friend, dedicating oneself with all one's heart like a beloved consort. These nine symptomed devotions I consider the best among all what I studied so far."

Hearing this, Hiranya's eyes rolled with anger, trembling with immense wrath he threw the boy on the floor and scolded the teachers. At once he ordered the death sentence for Pralhaad. The killer saw his spears and swords do not hurt Pralhaad. They enter in his body but the hurt went in the air and his body remains intact, not even a wound is formed. Then he was taken and placed under the feet of mighty mad elephants; he did not die. He was thrown among cobras. They bit him; he did not die. He was hurled and dashed down from a hilltop; he did not die. A treacherous created goblin grabbed him but he did not die.

He was made to drink deadly poison; he did not die. The great magician Shambar was called. He tried to kill him through magical feats but he remained undaunted. He was starved, locked in a dark cell, left in a hail storm, put in an ice cold refrigerator, in a burning fire, tied with a rope he was hurled and thrown in the ocean but assuming a beautiful form ocean welcomed him, untied him, consoled and placed him on the beach. He was crushed under the rock, but he did not die. He lived on.

With all these failures, Hiranyu's wrath increased. He was surprised too and one day he himself prepared to kill him.

"Who is your Lord in the name of whom you are so confident, so protected and so independent -- who is it and where does he live?"

"Father, please give up your demonicity and see the Lord, my beloved is here, there and everywhere. He is even your own power. Being equal in all and loving all is greatest form of his worship. If you can believe me he is right here, in this pillar." Pralhaad said calmly.

Hiranya stared and jumped down and dashed a heavy blow of his fist upon that diamond pillar. It broke into two halves. Ear rending sound spread and like lightening a half lion and half man gorgeous being appeared. He was almost ceiling touching tall. He was roaring like an angry lion. He was dangerous, his jaws were horrifying, his tongues and teeth were sharp like sword, eyebrows turned, big nose, open mouth, wide chest, thin loin, moonray like hair on the body. Many hands holding weapons. His nails were like axes. He roared and roared bringing earthquake and storm. Soldiers ran down and attacked on Lord Narsimha. He killed them all.

Then Hiranya jumped down again, and a fierceful fight ensued. He dashed his mighty club on the Lord but he grabbed him with the club but he slipped away. Both fought for a long time. Then the Lord grabbed him like a cobra picks up a rat, carried him at the doorway, placed him on his thighs. It was time when dusk was approaching when he pierced the sharp nails of his hands and tore his belly as an eagle tears away the snake. He was licking the edges of his mouth and blood drops adorned his hair. Killing him he took out his intestines and wore a garland of them and dashed his dead body on the ground. His army ran there to kill him but Narsimha killed most of them.

The golden hair of his neck and light of his face and eyes shone like sun. Eyes blinded in his light. And then he went and sat on the high throne of Hiranya's royal assembly.

All celestials came with Bramhaa, Lord Shiva, Laksmi and Indra too and eulogized. But no response. No one dared to come closer to him. He was hot, shining and angry. At last they sent to little Pralhaad who went closer. As soon as Lord saw him, the sweet simple boy, he immediately picked him up and placed him on his lap and out of great love licked him and said.

"My dear Pralhaad, oh, so soft your body, softer is your heart, and so cruel persecution of that demon -- I am so sorry. If I am late, please forgive me."

Hearing the compassionate words of the Lord all celestials showered flowers and shouted, "All glories to Thee, Jai Jai!"

Pralhaad's devotion combined with Lord Narsimha's compassion became effulgent light of lovetrance. And Pralhaad became enlightened. He felt as if, elephants cannot be accommodated in a hole of a snake, he cannot be accommodated in the world. And the entire world celebrated a festival of his enlightenment.

Lord Narsimha coronated him -- to that five year old boy and the universe danced in ecstasy. Now Pralhaad's reign began. It continued peacefully for thousands of years.

One day Pralhaad entered in nirvikalp samadhi -- same state of Lovetrance where he was overflooded by bliss, love and awareness. He sat for another set of five thousand years. Daityas tried hard but couldn't wake him up. At last Lord Visnu came on his mighty Garuda. All cheered when he blew his snow white Panchajanya conch. He entered the palace. All were surrounding him. He entered into the same trance of meditation where Pralhaad was and he brought him out to the physical level of life. A great celebration started. A dharma empire was established. All citizens worked hard on realizing their true Self either through deep love (nine symptomed devotion) or through knowledge.

STORY OF GANDHIIn the same Kosala State, once upon a time there lived a bramhin near Sarayu river. He was well versed in all the knowledge. He was peaceful, silent, introvert and contemplative. He was faraway from what is going on in the world.

Once he decided to meditate for a long time. He found a most beautiful spot. Lotuses and lilies bloomed and spread perfume all day and all night, black deers roamed, and peacocks danced. He made a deluxe cottage, sowed vines and bushes all around and sat in deep meditation. Eight years passed. Lord Visnu appeared and asked, "Varambruhi. Please ask whatever you wish for."

"My Lord, I just wanted to see you. Oh, you are so beautiful."

"That is correct but ask for anything."

"Evamastu -- so be it." He said and vanished.

A long time passed happily. One day at the end of taking a bath in the river he was chanting aghamarsan (sin absolving) mantras while still standing in navel deep water.

Suddenly his mind slipped and he saw clearly exactly as in the waking state in his home. Then he saw he just died. Family members are crying, his corpse is decomposing. His mother is holding his dead body until all kinsmen arrived. They gathered like birds and carried it to the cemetery, placed it on the pyre and set fire. It burned into ashes. They came back to the home.

Then he saw himself entering in the womb of a corpse-eater chandali (a special tribe who eat corpses as part of taking charge of keeping the streets clean) like a worm. In ten months he came out as a ripened fruit from the tree. He grew up as a tree grows. He was handsome. His mother loved him as did all the family. He became sixteen years old. He would take a group of his dogs and go to the forest for hunting, killing deers, birds and other animals. He was married and many kids were born.

Suddenly a famine spread and all began dying. His wife, his kids all died, so he left the village and walked and walked. He reached a State called Krant desha where the king had just died leaving no son. As a custom an elephant with a garland was released among all people, of the city and from abroad. The elephant moved around with his trunk lifted up holding the most valuable garland. As soon as he saw him he placed the garland on his neck and lifting him up by his trunk set him on his back. The crowd rejoiced, and soon he was coronated. He concealed his caste.

He married with a beautiful wife, and began living like a king. Adorned with innumerable valuable gems, pearls and diamonds, golden ornaments and silk suits he enjoyed life for eight years. Once, surrounded by his friends, kinsmen and a small army, he was going for hunting. On his way he came close to a colony of chandalas. One of the chandalas recognized him. He also had left during the famine.

"Oh dear brother, how are you? I knew your talent of singing songs will attract great wealth one day. Where are you now -- has the king hired you for his musician?" He embraced him and requested him to visit his home.

King wanted him to get lost but he was overwhelmed with emotion. He didn't leave, and everybody knew he was a chandala. They lamented, "Oh, they lost the purity of their caste." The news spread all around. When the king returned to his palace people ran away. Priests looked into the scriptures and couldn't find any remedy for the sin of associating and dining with a chandala.

At last a huge fire was set in the middle of the city and like moths all the royal family -- men, women, all began entering into the fire. His most beloved queen lamenting seriously entered the fire. King saw and felt ashamed, humiliated and heartbroken. He too came to the fire and jumped into the burning flame. When the king felt the burning pain the body of the bramhin Gandhi shook which was still in the water -- standing navel deep reciting the mantra. It was only twelve minutes that passed. He completed the oblution. But his heart kept wondering.

Whatever he saw was so clear that he became puzzled and confused. He kept thinking of the vow -- what a terrible stand did I witness. He came to his hermitage and lived there a few days when he decided to go to his home and check it out. But then a bramhin guest came from faraway. He hosted him for many days. He was so lean and thin. He brought herbs, roots and fruits that can serve as tonic for his weakness. One night he asked, "Why are you so weak?"

"Because I reduce one morsel of my meals each passing day in dark fortnight. On the 15th I observe total fast. From the next day I increase one by one morsel till fifteen days. This I have done as a twelve krichra chandrayan fast."

"Sir, but that is done as confession to one's severe sin?" Gandhi asked.

"Yes, I did one. Not just one, hundreds of them. In fact I stayed in Kranta State, I didn't know the king was a chandala. It was only the last day it was revealed when a huge fire was set in midtown and all bramhins and ksatriyas entered the fire. I was out of the city boundary so I didn't enter the fire but still I needed to clean myself."

Gandhi was struck with wonder. After the guest left he decided to visit the place by himself.

He walked. Like a camel looking for thorns reaches into the jungle of thorns he arrived at that village of chandalas. To his surprise he saw the place where he used to come daily to work in the field when he grew young. He saw creepers and trees he had planted. Some are dead, leafless, still standing, others still green with flowers. Animals he had killed and placed their skeletons on certain treetops he saw them too.

Then he entered the chandala village near his home. It was so dirty, so stinking, nauseatic, vomiting -- stink of dead animals, stink of leather being cooked, stink of bones being cooked to make glue, lipstick, candles, glycerin etc. There he used to play with other dirty, stinking boys. Some of them are still around. Now they are old with white hair, broken teeth, rest of them yellow, rotten; their bodies smelly, clothes sweaty. Children defecated nearby. He also saw the pub where he used to drink wine. There it was he was married with another ugly, stinky, harsh-toned woman whose only quality was to produce babies and babysit them. Seeing all these he was shocked and great dispassion arose.

He met a few persons and asked, "Do you remember here was a chandala with a large black body who used to sing?"

"Oh yes, his name was Kantakjal (thorny water). He was born here, we played together. Never went to school. ------------

"Just like the crow keeps on uttering harsh words eating left over impure food stuff, same way mind sitting in the unclean home of this flesh, blood and bone infested body keeps on running after anti-Self realisational substances like sensational objects. Never is it quiet. Due to evil urges it is black like the crow. As the crow has only one eye on each side of it's head, the mind is also only an imitation of this limited vision as well because it rushes around looking for ways to get sense objects.

"As to this inauspicious crow, Prince Rama, shoot it down by the pistol of pious thinking.

"Mind is a vulture. To get flesh of sensual joy it hovers all around. Wherever it sees hot dog of ego it jumps down and grabs. Better shoot it by the bullet of discretion.

"Mind is lika a ghost. As a ghost possessed, haunted man talks meaningless and suffers for no reason, similarly people of the world are suffering. Every one is possessed and obsessed by both -- mind, the Mr. Ghost, and hankering, the Mrs. Ghost. This Mr. and Mrs. Ghost can only be exorcised by mantra of dispassion. Get them out. Kick out all these little apparition, goblins and vampires which provoke identification with anything else other than the Self. Got to do that.

"Mind is like a monkey. The one which is very restless. Monkey sits on one treetop, then it jumps onto another. You have to tame it. Wisely allure him for spiritual gifts. Allure him, if he follows certain descipline, he can be allowed one nonharmful sense gratification. Thus make him change his habit.

"Mind is like a rope, like a fetter. The whole world is chained up with the hard knots of doer, action and their binding impressions. As there are innumerable slaves tied in one rope so also all people are tied with one cosmic mind. To that thick heavy rope, please cut through with the knife of disassociation and detachment.

"Prince, this mind is a python. It is full of poison of hankering for sense gratification. And with its horrifying hiss and sting it has burned down the most beautiful lotuses of shama (mental control), dama (sense control) and dhairya (patience). No one can kill this wicked python unless the discretion eagle arises in the sky of your life. When this python is dead you become enlightened.

It cannot be destroyed by weapons of suffering fortune and death fire. It disappears only by association of saints and study of scriptures.

"This mind is a cloud. Hankering lightening illumines. Wherever it rains it destroys the harvest of wisdom and lotuses of sense and mental disciplines. By the mantra of auspicious search for Truth it disperses.

"Rama, through the weapon of mind pierce the mind and drop both of them. Function through intuition, then through consciousness itself."

STORY OF UDDALAK"Prince Rama, the tendency of mind is double edged, sharp sword. It is either positive or negative. Both are killer edges. Do not be allured. Drop it considering it false. The vine of knowledge which is gotten by occasional auspicious place and time, sprinkle it with water of discretion. As long as body has not gotten old, weak and dropped dead, use intense self effort to make yourself generous and become free from the world. This body is not you. You are Pure Consciousness. Listen, I shall tell you the story of Uddalak. He attained the Supreme by exposition of elements.

"O Prince, before his youth came he developed a quest and proceeded to Himalayas. He found a beautiful place in the Valley of Flowers near Hemkund. Sitting in his cave overlooking Danda Puskarini lake he began to wonder -- why do you run to persons of sensational objects relinquishing the nectar of Self experience? All these efforts of yours are just for extra misery.

"O mind, identifying with tongue you talk too much that is all in vain, like frogs' annoying sound. They all take away freedom.

Associating with ears, what you hear auspicious or inauspicious, that all goes away murderous like deer dies falling in trap of the hunter who plays sweet music.

"With skin association, whatever you enjoy touching is as deceptive and murderous as elephant who is caught by falling in the ditch when he rushes to touch a grass made female elephant.

If you associate with taste and run to nice dishes, you will perish again like fish which grabs food which has a thorn in it, which gets stuck in his mouth and thus he dies.

"If you associate with smell and rush down to objects of nice odors, then fall in bondage like bumble bee is arrested inside the lotus, and even though he can pierce and get out he can't and dies in vain. So you perish again, O dear mind.

"If you run towards women or if you are woman racing to men then your life will perish again like moth in fire.

"Oh, you are five sense objects enjoyer, what a destruction you are heading at...

"You call this body "I or my or me", well where is it? From tip to toe it is nothing but a baggage of bone, blood and flesh. You think, I do, I eat, I touch, where do you do -- you are burning in vain by love and hate. Sight is perceived by eyes, because eyes are born of sight the power of fire is in there to perceive the objects of sight, and why unnecessarily you poke your nose? Why do you go heated up and yell and scream that way?

"Word is born of sky, sky portion is in the ear which perceives its quality, the words. Why you interfere?

Sense of touch is born of air. Air is in skin. Air perceives the touch. Why you get a headache?

"Taste is born of water. Water is in tongue. Right on tip of the tongue it is sitting which tastes food and rasagullas. Why do you go on fuddling?

"Nose is born of smell. Smell is in the earth. Earth is in smell. Earth perceives the perfume and stink. Why do you disfigure your face?

"Stupid mind, senses perceive their own objects. Why do you make a big fuss about yourself?

"Senses never give their duties (dharma, nature) to anyone else nor they take some one else's. They don't get a feverish fight on it. They are free from love and hate and clinging too. But you are such a peanut head you just impose upon yourself other's dharma, other's natural duties and then keep on burning in fire of attachment and hatred -- likes and dislikes. If you just stay a little sensible you will never suffer.

"Associating with you is a pain in the teeth, constant headache. As to a cub donkeys keep bothering, you have bothered me alot. Now here I disassociate from you. That is your way and this is my way.

Goodbye...

"From today on I am satchidanand Bramha. I'm cosmic. I'm one without second. You had conditioned me in this bag of flesh. And had turned me into Kantakjal chandal and Lawana-the chandala by projecting "I, my, me" stereo type vision on flesh bag body. Now he abandoned you.

"Like a child scared of his own shadow seeing it as ghost, you scared me terribly. Now I am established in that non-dual peace. These limbs and senses are all separate things you collected and stored in one heap. Like thread collects so many gem beads and calls "I" the necklace, same foolishness you do. Collecting the heap of trash from innumerable places stamp on it "I, my, me" and keep burning in fever of "me, my-ness" I am beyond the everchanging. Birth, disease and death are projected by stupid mind upon the Pure Self.

"Birth means: that which wasn't before but came out later. Death means, which was before but finished later. But the Self is such which never ceases to exist. Which was before creation and will be even after creation. As long as Garuda is present, cobras never come closer, so also as long as this wisdom prevails ego doesn't eclipse the Self.

"No, I'm done. As butter is taken out from milk, as oil is taken out from sesame seeds, same way I have taken out to my Self from this body, this so-called life. Now all there is is left over to be trashed out. The essence is here, me, I am. I am infused in and through all and everyone and everything.

Thinking thus:

Uddalak seated in lotus posture closed his eyes and began chanting AUM. He inhaled fast chanting A, then stopped and chanted U, and then exhaled chanting M. He did it over and over. Emptied his chest like Agastya did to the ocean. And his AUM resounded so musically and rhythmically that susumna became opened. And his soul flew through it and reached to one thousand lotus petals on top of his head. He stayed there. At last as flood finds an outlet his soul flew through bramharandhra.

All celestials showered flowers and came to him running. Requested very humbly to come to the heaven.

He smiled. He reverently said, "Thank you, O holy sires, O siddhas, thank you very much for your offer. But like poison I relinquish that planet, I am going to Bramhajyoti." And soon like intensified rays of autumn full moon his body became and he rose above and above and above. All celestials, gandharvas, nagas, nymphs, kept looking at his departure.

"It was terrific! Magnificent! Astounding!" They said.

After a few days his body fell on the earth as a dry leaf falls from a tree. A music echoed from that body. Then nymphs and devas came and offered fragrant garlands to the body and worshipped and danced. Like him you too organize your mind, O Prince, towards Bramha realization. Hurry up!

STORY OF KING SURAGHU"Prince Rama:

"Self and the world are non-different. Of course this experience dawns only after disappearance of the mind. But this Truth lights up. Self is black paper ego, mind, place and time are sharpness. If Self is sugarcane, world is sweetness. If Self is stone, world is hardness of it. If Self is mountain, world is gem and shine, same way Self and world are the same."

In the far north regions of the Himalayas, camphor smeared fragrant lands near Mount Kailash, there was a kingdom of Suraghu. He was a poet, wise, dutiful, dispassionate, and very handsome.

One evening he was sitting in his garden and he began to think -- This world is only in one's emotion. Heaven, earth, planets, air, rivers, sky, time, whole world is in the mind. As from seed entire tree grows up, from mind world evolves.

When flower blooms its inner perfume spreads out and we feel it. But nothing is in, nothing is out the Self, the consciousness is being perceived differently. There is neither truth nor false, there is just one single pure existence. To a blind all are dark but to a man of eyes all are colorful. Again to the negative all becomes miserable, to the positive all becomes joyous. But in truth there is just one Pure Self.

Thinking thus, as mist vanishes when autumn comes, his mind evaporated and as mountain doesn't shake and waver by wind he became larger than the world's trivials and turmoils. His discretion gem of his necklace of dutifulness shone brilliantly. His fame became bigger than Mount Meru, ocean and sky. As elephant doesn't sink in knee deep water he never sank in the mud of likings and dislikings, love and hate.

It is only passionate and body identified are those who sink in these. To them these are ocean large. Whole thing changes just by conquering the senses and not doing it.

Suddenly Sage Mandavya appeared from the bushes, smiled and said, "When waves submerge, water is same, only it became calm. When season is gone time remains the same, symptoms become different -- Same way, O King, I accept your obeisances and have my blessing. All the sight feelings will be evaporated and one Self consciousness will shine. No more mind but now Pratibhaa will be active."

Telling thus, Sage disappeared.

King Suraghu came to his palace, sat in his bedroom and began to think -- Like water cannot touch the lotus, this body, these people, these engagements cannot disturb me. Just like water goes to low and high places but does not leave its liquidness. Likewise, King continued ruling his State, not abandoning, not missing his Self experience. As with rise of sun darkness disappears, his pain and misery all disappeared. As stone doesn't vibrate, in him doership and enjoyership doesn't vibrate. Doing all his works he remained uninvolved as lotus leaf in water. Then after hundreds of years of successful reign, as ice cube with touch of sunrays melts and becomes water, as river dissolves into ocean, he too merged into Cosmic Self. His individual Self dissolved into Absolute Bramha. Jar's sky became one with vast sky.

"Holy Sire, what is Eka Samadhi?" Sri Rama asked.

"Oh Prince I recall."

One time when Suraghu was ruling. King Parigh was ruling Iran. Both were old friends. They had studied together in the University of Taxila (on the border of India and Iran).

Once a great famine spread in Iran. King couldn't handle it. Citizens began migrating to other countries. King Parigh was helpless and ashamed. He went to Elburz Mountains and entered a cave. Bathing thrice in a river coming from Himalayas he meditated. He abandoned all food. Then he abandoned macrobiotic food too and started living only on dry leaves. His name became Parnada or Parigha. Then like butterfly joins swans, he too joined the company of Siddhas, great yogis of India. He became a wondering monk.

Traveling everywhere he reached the State of Suraghu. Both met each other heart to heart. Both sat together in the palace like the sun and moon. Parigha said, "Dear friend, I heard you became enlightened by blessings of Sage Mandavya. Your fame has reached all over, even to girls of villages sing your praise in folk songs. What is the best you have attained all along?"

"Dear friend, there is nothing in the world to be attracted for. Because whatever there is, is reflection of mind. These Miss Universes, these delicatessens, these adventurous resorts, these mansions of gold, they are acceptable only when you project your liking upon them. Liking is based on old-patterns. I have worked hard to smash out all these patterns through Eak Samadhi. It is not just being quiet and still, but lifting up of the veil of patterns of these misconceptions which bind the Self in innumerable complicated strings, knots and ties. Then an everlasting illumination pervades." Replied King Suraghu.

Then both friends began living together, and walked into the panoramic bushes on the bank of Manasarovar lake. They visited yogis, sat together, dined and strolled together, and rested in the palace together. After a few months Parigha took leave and began strolling the length and width of India.

Just like deers cannot disturb lions, same way worldly affairs cannot agitate the man of Realization. Just like thorns cannot be born in Nandan grove of heaven, in wisemen, desires for worldly things does not born nor he feels poorly in his heart without them.

As darkness cannot be removed without light, same way ignorance cannot be dispelled without contemplation upon wise words. When ignorance vanishes, sensual gratification does not taste as much as it used to. As water does not blind the fish, to the wise word contemplators, sense involvements do not create stress and strains.

This soul, like a bull is tied up with hundreds of knots of hopes, exhausted traversing on stony roads of various age, fallen in ditches of sensations. Carrying the load of work, lost in the forest of life, entangled in mud of do's and don'ts, bitten by mosquitoes of love and hate -- likes and dislikes, pulling the cart of attachment and kinship, sinking in the filth of family relationships, keeps on walking on the paths of worldliness. Sun of ignorance is scorching, still doesn't stop under the shadows of the tree of wisemen and their message. Prince, help deliver this bull of soul from this tragic condition.

One should not stay even overnight in the desert like country where there are no trees of wisemen and centers of their message. Their message is a ship to cross beyond worldliness.

Wisemen are a Banion tree in the desert of this world. Their words of wisdom are green leaves, their pleasures are flowers, their teachings are fruits. When you go closer you feel peace and satisfaction.

Prince Rama, you are friend of yourself. And you are enemy of yourself. If you drop yourself into the ditches of birth and death, if you project I-ness in body and hanker for sensations you destroy yourself, then you are enemy of yourself.

You have to consider who you are, what is Truth and what is lie? Accept Truth and drop the lie. Neither wealth nor friends nor education will deliver you from the ditch but you yourself by your own Self. Therefore make friendship with mind and train him in detachment and practice, cut off fetters and handcuffs of I-ness and my-ness, you can be free. This is true freedom. Got it?

STORY OF BHASA & VILASAPrince Rama:

This soul is like an elephant which has fallen in the ditch of birth. It is chained with hankering and ego, drunk with wine of desires. It has to be delivered at all cost. No matter what you do consider this body as a log or a stone. Don't stick your ego with this. When ego cloud will disperse, Self sun will shine forth.

As suffering becomes innumerable when dilusion (dissolution) comes closer, similarly -- when mind pops up suffering grows heavier. As flood sweeps off all things of life, when mind wakes up it devours all understanding.

Prince Rama:

There is a picturesque, lush green, high mountain Sahyachal. Innumerable trees with flowers and fruits surround it. Like liquid pearls and crystals, fountains flow there. Green grass carpet is thickly spread there -- birds chirp, peacocks dance, cuckoos coo, and all peace and serenity is intense and dense.

A Sage lived there who had two most handsome sons, Bhasa and Vilasa. As two soft leaves sprout they grew together. Like sesame seed and oil, like flower and fragrance, like candy and sweetness, like word and meaning, they lived together like wise. They were two -- only apparently, in fact they were one.

After a few years their parents died. Both lamenting, their faces streaming with tears they performed the last rites for their departed souls. After that they remained sad. Memories of their parents always came. Wherever they went, sweet affectionate, loving gestures of their parents reflected. Like a waterless forest dries they became lean and thin. They left for different places. They were sad.

After a few months they met again. Vilasa said in the night after dinner, "Dear brother, the fruit of this tree of life is joy. Have you lived in joy all these times? When we separated where you went and what you did? What events took place? Did you clean up your mirror of consciousness? Have you attained some stages of integrity?"

Bhasa said, "Brother, as long as not gone beyond regular mode of life and attained the Truth in Nirvikalpa Samadhi, where is joy? Thorns of hope vines keep on growing. Brother, this mind has fallen in the dry, dark well of body identification in which there are crawling snakes and scorpions of sensational joys. Hope thorns tear off limbs, hankering mud sticks the legs. Ego vulture is flying above to grab. Lotuses of joys are dustified by dirts of exhaustion. We have to rise above. We got to transcend brother, now, how long we will keep on suffering? We must transcend sanga. We must ascend to the level of asanga. Let us waste no more time."

All night they conversed. And by the morning when the sun rose they both became enlightened.

They rose high in consciousness and saw clearly -- Just like dust fallen on waves, ocean doesn't get hurt, suffering of mind doesn't hurt the Self. As water and swan, water and boat, mountain and ocean, stone and wood are separate, same way mind and Self or mind and body are separate. Suffering is only due to wrong hypnosis in heap of trash being collected together. Where this heap is known separately, no suffering ever touches. Bhasa and Vilasa then traveled all around the globe and shared their knowledge with all beings who came in their contact.

WHAT IS SANGA?"Holy Sire, what is sanga which creates bondage? What is asanga which liberates? How does it liberate?" Sri Rama asked.

Prince Rama:

Association of body and Self. Assumption of the Self, imposition of Self that I am only this body. This supposition is called sanga. Only to limit oneself in the body, centering oneself with body and desiring and making efforts to be happy only with this little piece, is called sanga.

One who has arisen above body, who has desire neither for relinquishing actions, nor for doer-ship, nor for credits of any kind. That is asanga. Who is beyond likes and dislikes, excitement and lamentation, he is asanga. He is free from bondage of karma. He attains sattvic tendencies.

Mind artist has painted in hollow space through colors of sanga innumerable bodies and life forms. They are all false because of being ever-changing. You can count drops of Ganga water from Gangotri to Gangasagar but you cannot count the bodies a man of sanga has taken in the past and will be taking in the future.

As in rainy season rivers are full of water, swans come in Manasarovar, likewise satvik treasures are attracted towards man of asanga.

To one who has sanga of sight the sanga of Self will feel like burning coal. Whose heart is free from sanga the sanga of the Self will feel like nectar, like moonshine -- cool, pleasant and joyous. Flood is all over but he is sitting on the hilltop.

When you know permanently your body and Self are as separate as light and darkness, heat and cold, sunshine and shadow, cloth and stone, air and sound, and still stay alert, aware, conscious and fully awake, you'll have lasting peace.

K, kha, ga, gha -- these are pronounced in the neck.

Cha, chha, ja, jha -- these are pronounced in the palate.

Ta, tha, da, dha -- these are pronounced in the head.

Ta, tha, da, dha -- these are pronounced in the teeth.

Pa, pha, ba, bha, ma -- these are pronounced in the lips.--------

Dropping all passions focus in the heart center then--

Ten inches above the navel that which is without inside-out feelingful awareness, that is heart and nowhere else. Stay there-- Then--

When movements of breath are suspended, mind becomes still and silent. Then passion dissolves. Then you spread and expand and go cosmic.

Then you attain that through which this all exists, which is all without which these all do not exist. Which is not all, which is not in all. In which all is not. Such Bramha is attained.

STORY OF VITAHAVYA:

The Wonderful Son of Sage Agastya

In his mountain cave, Vitahavya, a young seeker of Truth, sat in lotus pose on the deerskin seat. As cloud drops off all air and becomes quiet, likewise he became. Sitting straight, stopping all senses, stilling all vibrations of mind, he focused his attention within. But just like a ball -- as much you push it inside the water so much it pops out; the mind too ran out towards formerly accustomed thoughts, things and people. Like a mad elephant runs from where the strong smell of lady elephant comes, his mind also raced. Then like wise parents explain a child, Vitahavya started fixing his mind.

"Dear mind, these objects are inert and appear out of illusion. Wanting them is to plunge into the ocean of suffering. Just like a stone slab cannot dance you have no ability to be the doer or enjoyer. Because you and those objects are inert. And the Self who has ability is the pure witness. He never descends from his prestine glory. Self is just like sun. With the rise of sun, innumerable things are being done in the world, but sun is not the doer at all. He is witness. But by his mere appearance all are done.

"Whatever power is in you comes from me. When we drink water the cup doesn't drink, but through cup we do. Same way you are like a cup, like an instrument, a vehicle. You vehicles, don't just jump up and suddenly become my boss.

"Water and water can become one, fire and fire become one, but you being inert how can you become one with conscious Self.

"Just like sky cannot catch cold by wind you cannot do anything. Like an iron can burn sitting in fire for a long time, same way you as instrument of Self do and enjoy things. Like sky cannot have redness, Self cannot have doership.

"Therefore mind, why do you rush towards these things. They belong to illusory mirage. As long as I was involved with you I suffered. River flows towards the ocean only to dissolve. If there would be no water how can she rush? It is being with you, O mind, my life rushes towards death and perishes.

"Cloud obscures the sun by mist, mind cloud too by mists of desires covers the sun of the Self and series of sufferings continues.

"Mind, you got too much worry. You are like a monkey. Monkey doesn't let the tree stay still. It keeps shaking on and on and on. Same way you keep shaking the body.

"Mind, you are a bird. You have two wings of greed and shame and a beak of love and hate. Sitting on the tree of body you keep cutting down the auspicious qualities.

"Mind, like a dog why do you keep running after filthy sensual joys and keep staring in the heart of their impressions?

"Mind, like an owl you wander in the night of ignorance. Like in the cemetery ghosts make sounds, you too create too many noises. Oh, when this night of ignorance will end and owl mind will vanish?

"Mind, your life like an owl is despicable. It is worse than death. Your death is like life. Please disappear by merging yourself in the Bramha."

Now mind began merging in Pure Self and Vitahavya was pleased. And he sang a song of fulfillment.

"Oh thanks, thanks, I've no struggle, no strain, no stress, no anxiety. I'm unlimited and vast... Oh I'm That, all this is That. I am the Pacific Ocean."

Prince Rama:

Thus the seeker entered in a deep state of Mystic Trance and straightening his navel became established in the Self.

Like burning heaps of wood, fire extinguished and became still. Like that he became silent and pure witness. Like a statue of stone he stood still and erect. Rain showered, beasts roamed around, monkeys leaped and raced, deer jumped, but he remained still and oblivious of all the externals. Wind blew, sun scorched, elephants screeched, lions roared, but his meditation didn't break. Thus three hundred years passed.

Then suddenly mind vibrated that -- O great, no thought intruded yet! Then instantly he saw himself on Mount Kailash under the Kadamba tree. One hundred years he traveld as Self realized in groves, riverbanks and hills. One hundred years he enjoyed as Vidyadhar. After five yugas passed he became Indra and was extensively revered by all around All celestials bowed down to him.

"Holy Sire, where did he find the place, time and mind again when one was already suspended?"

Mind is all inclusive and colossal. Whatever vibration flickers, mind's ray assumes that form. As much intense space and time flickers, that strong goes the experience and perception in the outside world follows. To the ignorant, variety and diversity expands out of passion. And the wise, all reflects as manifestation of his own Self. This kind of perception is not perception at all. His passion too is not passion at all. Vitahavya saw all these but his was the case of passionless passion. Just like a fried seed cannot sprout so was his mind.

For four billion years he sported as representative of Lord Shiva all over the Cosmic egg.

World appears through vibrations of mind. But to whom This fact is unknown, world appears as harder than thunderbolt. To those who know it appears as plain sky -- empty space of chidakasha.

"Holy Sire, what happened to the body of Vitahavya which was left in the cave at Mount Vindhyachal?" Asked Rama.

While traveling all around the Cosmic egg he remembered at times, and came to the spot where he saw due to heavy rain, flood had swept the place. And his body is sunk in the mud. He visited much later and he saw it is stuck in the dust, dirt and clay, green grass had grown all around. And there he is, his body still in the same pose. He thought, "Shall I enter it..." But he decided not to. "Better I go to planet Sun and give this task to Aruna."

He flew fast with the speed of light and as subtle as air he entered the orb of planet Sun. Surya Narayan welcomed him. He stayed as guest. Then Surya instructed Aruna to go to the came and redeem the body from the earth. Aruna went. With his huge nails and powerful hands he recovered the body. Cleaned and purified, he waited. Vitahavya then entered the body as bird hovering in the sky comes back and enters its nest.

Vitahavya opened his eyes. Welcomed Aruna. He greeted him. After a short conversation Aruna fixed the place all nice and clean. Vitahavya then went to the river, bathed and cleaned all the mud and dirt of all those years. He offered oblations to the Surya. And as he used to live before, he began to live happily adorned with Bramhalaksmi splendor of spiritual prosperity.

"My dear mind, now I have no problem with you at all. You are nondifferent from the Self now. There is no need to coin separate word as Self or atma or even Bramha. You have transformed into faculty of Pratibha. In this I alone exist as vast as sky, as still and solid as mountain, as deep and generous as ocean I am. What I am that you are. And all this is That too."

Vitalhavy remained jivanmukta for twenty thousand seven hundred years and then became videha mukta. He then traveled to the Himalayan peak and thanked each and everyone and entered in Bramha effulgence.

FAREWELL DEAR!

"How did he give thanks?" Sri Rama asked.

He said, "O attachment, you are transformed into uninvolvement. I've sported with you devoid of discretion for too long. But now you should go. Thanks alot.

"O enjoyment, desiring for you I had forgotten my Supreme Status. Like a mother expects for joy from her son, likewise I used to hope for you always. But now you go. Thanks alot.

"O suffering, its by your startling education that I have attained this heightened state. I always longed for joy and pleasure. Whenever joy came I carried you too. You leaped up and hid inside my basket of pleasure. Oh I like your sneaking habit. Thousands of years of your sudden encounterment has made me your friend. Dear, all I can say -- I did hate you up to your grandpa but now with all my heart I can say, I love you so much. But now you too please go. Oh, how much I wanted to kick you out, how I resented to see your face, but had not you bore all my hatred and still not came frequently, how could have I made it this far? You were a real kinsman. No one can bear that much hatred and insult and for that long. You alone did... so nice of you. Thanks alot. Please go now.

"Dear hankering, O Trisna, you too accompanied me all along for so long. Thank you. Have a nice day.

"O lust, you too, wonderful you are. It is your energy that turned into tremendous force into my search for Truth.

"O punyas, O satvik tendencies -- thanks to you too. Lifting me up from hellish life, accustomed me into a heavenly one. That was a new adventure, now surprise of course. How wonderful transformation, society declared those days. I was the talk of for the shows of all those guys, Johnny Carson, Donohue and Peter Jennings, all they talked about was how I, and my entire billionaire ranch was transformed into a pure vegetarian, silent, yoga-loving commune. But that was those days. Even the U.S. President came to congratulate. It was then we opened our door to wiseman coming from India. It was then we subscribed to "The Enlightenment Club" of The Aum Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Foundation. And our life saw a new ray of hope, light and serenity. Then we had daily "Ramayana" discourses in our home. Your role, O sukrit, O punyas, is incredible. But now you fulfilled your role as well as goal. I attained what all you aim to have everyone attain whom you fall in love with. Now we depart. Please accept my thanks.

"O mistakes, O evil deeds, O lies, O lethargy, inaction is your seed, immature teen-age is your field. We happened to meet each other on some turn of life, somehow got the lesson. Now we both are over with since long. Got the reward. In my growth and enlightenment you too have shared. Here, take, have this kohenur diamond, please. Have a nice day.

"O delusion, O infatuation, I had tied with you, roped and yoked a long long time. You used to scare me and I used to get scared. It is in those fears I would shrink, go small, congested and narrow. It is then when petty mindedness and meanness would come and give way to invading and marching footsteps of suffering. But since suffering proved to be a great educator, I can know that would have not been possible unless you had helped me to be petty minded and mean. Thank you, farewell, O good great infatuation. Thanks alot.

"O mountain cave, in you I lived so long. Oh how great you preserved my body so long. We had so many honeysuckle days together. But now we depart. Thank you, Sir.

"O intelligence, O discretion, O kamandalu, thank you too. You did great help to me. You helped me tremendously to grow and attain what I'm at now. Thanks.

"O body, holding these skeletons carefully, letting blood flow efficiently, you helped me to develop advance stages of discretion. It is only you alone where discretion is born. You are open door to ripeness of consciousness, of maturity. You are only out of ever programmed state of life. A new freedom is your nature. And eternal freedom is the possibility. But now we depart. Thank you so much. Have a nice day.

"O interactions of world, thank you too. I worked hard in your area. Not a single action there seems to be I have not done, neither seems a country there is I have not seen. My senses, my prana, my emotion, ego, mind, please thank you so very much. Farewell -- albida albida albida...

"Soon light of my eyes will merge in sun. My nose in the earth, prana and skin in air, hearing in sky, mind in moon, tongue in water. Like fire extinguishes after fuel is burned, flame after oil is finished, light after sun is set. All are going in this origin. Please have a nice day."

And Vitahavya then embarked upon rhythmic pronunciation of AUM and rose into the peak of videhamukti.

Prince Rama, as a lion cannot be ever controlled by monkeys and foxes, a Cosmic-Conscious jivanmukta cannot be disciplined by sensational urges.

"Holy Sire, does jivanmukta enlightenment offer siddhis (supernatural powers) like sky walking, self transferring, anima, mahima and laghima, all those nine powers of yoga sutra?" (footnote 2) Dear Rama, these supernatural powers are products of tapas. They are created by action, things and conditions. Self realization is unconditional. If jivanmukti applies it separately he attains them but they are not part or reward of Bramha realization. In fact man of Realization does not require those super natural powers. All siddhis are prescribed as associated with particular sadhana. Through yoga, mantra, gutaka and medicine these siddhis are designed to be accomplished. That is the policy. Moon is cool, fire is hot, medicine is healing. This is policy.

"Holy Sire, for three hundred years and more, Vitahavya was entranced, why his body didn't deterioriate, wasn't absorbed by the earth or eaten by animals and worms?" Asked Sri Rama.

Involved with passion (vasana) soul goes through suffering and happiness. One who has gone beyond cannot be pierced. In whatever object your mind is focused those objects reflect upon the Self and body also feels likewise. That is why even though three hundred long years possed, by the power of samadhi his body stayed safe and preserved. Samadhi is greatest preserver, a safest preservative ever possible.

Looking at a friend, friendliness arises. Looking at sweet things, saliva drips. Looking at enemy, agitation arises. Going closer to moon coolness is felt, closer to sun heat is felt. Same is the case when yogi relinquishes passion, I-ness and my-ness and becomes tranquil he feels it with all the labyrinth of perception. Therefore nature also corresponds to it and drops violence. And becomes part of its existence. Sky of equanimity is extended in and through the entire cosmos and elements too. Stones, earth, wood, water and toxins are not exceptions to it. Just like sunshine is permeating all around but reflects only on mirror, water and gems etc., same way where there is Mystic trance experience Bramha reflects. And who is holding firmly that reflection the hurt or destruction of any element, beast and situation do not apply.

Vitahavya's prana had stopped to vibrate so was his mind. When this happens no one has power to harm him. Thousands of years it can stay safe like a thunderbolt. They have neither any destiny nor sanchit store nor ongoing karma. They are free eternally, independent and free. Whatever they wish is fulfilled at once. They have no duties, nor disciplines. If anyone forces it on them he perishes.

"Holy Sire, you said by contemplation and discretion his mind dissolved, then from where qualities such as friendliness, compassion and generosity came?"

Prince, dissolution of mind is of two kinds -- liberated in life jivanmukti, and liberated beyond life videh mukti. The perception of truthfulness of mind is soulhood, that is the cause of misery. As much mind vanished that much qualities of Pure consciousness reflects. And they are always love, compassion, service, friendliness etc. The perfumes of atma start wafting and enlivening as soon as wall of mind is broken down. They do not belong to mind but to the Self. Mind manufactured love is other part of hatred, not true love. Love flows unconditionally when Bramha-experience takes over life. In jivanmukti all the bramhic qualities abound in one's personality. And never anywhere else.

WORLD-TREE In the crusts of chidakasa there is a mountain. Upon its plateau there is a tree of this world. Stars are flowers, clouds are leaves, sun and moon are boughs; god, demon, men are birds. Seven oceans are moats around with thousands of rivers. Pleasure and pain are fruits. Infatuation is irrigation water. Mind is seed, workoholism, dullness and peace are three branches containing the container of gems of pleasure and pain.

There are two origins of seed sprouting. Vibration of prana and solidification on it. When prana vibrates one hundred nadis are affected and become sensationalized. As blueness in sky, world appears in satvic mind. When it becomes extrovert it becomes workoholic mind. When it becomes peaceful in dullness and inactivity it is called tamasic mind.

Worry is the fruit. Actions are leaves. Modification of mind is a vine that surrounds the tree. Love and hatred are two larks. Hankering black cobra lives in this tree, senses are birds sitting upon it.

It has to be chopped off by detachment. Like strong wind collapses a tree you got to create, Rama, storms of Self investigation. Then only this gigantic tree of world will be blown off.

Sensation is the seed of passion and that is the vibration of prana. It can be transcended by entering into Mystic Trance. In the sesame, except oil, there is nothing. Same way in pure consciousness there is nothing except pure consciousness. As in dream one sees one's death or going abroad, same way sensation arises in consciousness. Assumes the form of "I am". In this bubble of "I am" the illusion of world appears. To a child his own fear born ghost appears to be true and scares him to death, same way out of one's own imagination world appears as true, solid, scientific and logical. Philosophy, logic, psychology, science is one's own concoction. That is why they keep changing all the time.

Yet you quote and prove authentic to all those former ones who are no more right. With new discoveries they are proved wrong and/or outdated. Because it is all imagination. As on the rope cobra appears, same way all these appear due to incorrect knowledge.

Due to incorrect perception, perception becomes conception. And it drops the Self in terrible trouble. Just like a crazy horse can dump you in a terrible disaster -- exactly like that. This incorrect conception followed by materialistic perception is very difficult to be rooted out. It is so difficult to root out Mountain Meru, same way is rooting out passion. Dissolution of passion and mind are simultaneous. That is accomplished by tatvajnana.

As you cannot hold the clouds, as you cannot catch the moon, as no lady can allure the cosmic, same way no suffering can agonize a tatvajnani. Therefore, O Prince Rama, you become a tatvajnani.

Here completes Volume I of Yoga Vasistha

Nirvana Prakarana Section BeginsREALIZE THIS In that pin drop silence of Solar auditorium, Sage Vasistha's voice echoed and re-echoed. Kings, ministers, citizens became motionless and still as a painted picture on the vast paper... And began to ponder over his words. Princes and princesses too noding their heads stood still and amazed. They were pleased and surprised to know the world does not exist at all which they thought all along was real. It was evening. Sun was setting. Evening raga echoed along with resoundings of clarinets, drums, sitars and flutes.

Prince Rama, like a swan separating the water, drinks the milk only, same way you do. Listening to my words from beginning to end, grasp the essence. Abide onto it. Make this understanding your own pure Self. World has options you pass or fail but here are no options; you must pass or fall in a bottomless abyss. As a traveler by the cliff in the midnight drops the flame of light and slips into valley thousands of feet below. O dear ladies and gentlemen, I spoke to you in great detail about tatvajnan through dispersion of passion. Practice and you will attain.

Assembly was dissolved. Vasistha and Visvamitra got up and King Dasaratha too. They gave heartfelt farewell to celestial sages and all departed. Four brothers followed them up to their ashram. They took bath in Holy Sarayu river, offered oblutions, meditated.

Worshipping pitris and celestials, feeding holymen, they took dinner.

Night descended. Kings, princes, princesses, wisemen sat on kusha grass seats and began to ponder upon the discourse from beginning till now. Then they took rest. But Rama, Laksmana, Bharata and Satrughna pondered over it for nine hours and rested for one and one-half hours. As soon as braamha muhurta approached they awoke.

After shower and meditation they came to Vasistha's hermitage. He was performing agnihotra. The four brothers offered obeisances. In thirty minutes thousands of people arrived. All came to King Dasaratha's palace, took breakfast and came to the Assembly hall. All were waiting still and silent as lotus flowers in a windless pond. Sunrays peeped through the windows as if they too gathered to listen to the Sage's discourse. Seated on his throne, looking at the entire audience as if seeing everyone has arrived, then to the Sage, and then the Sage's and his eyes met -- became one. And nectar flowed on.

Prince Rama:

By rightly performed ponderment over the wisdom, when vasana intoxication is vanished, you dis-unite with all physical imposition and unite with immortal bliss expanding colossal transforms into Bramha. This same Bramha out of illusion appears as world of diversity. Ever since childhood to furtherest future, whatever you have seen, touched, tasted, suffered and enjoyed, friends and foes, good and bad, right and wrong all were, is and will be only misconception upon pure Absolute Bramha. This all keeps on as long as "I-ness" in the body and "my-ness" upon the physical objects persists.

As long as association of wise one and study of wise words are not pondered upon seriously, so long pattern of folly does not disseminate. Illusion of mind goes on and on. So long one remains fainted, possessed by hope for sensational objects, person and situations.

Rama, as long as poisonous stink of cobra of hope keeps circling in the heart forest the cuckoo of correct thought in quest for Truth does not coo. As long as that cooing does not echo, ugliness of sensual motivation does not vanish. When the fire of hope for enjoyment is finished, coolness of contentment and truth descends and illusion incarnating mind evaporates.

When you drop the sight involvement and assume your solid "I-ness" upon the true Self experienced in Mystica Trancensia, then not only the whole world but entire existence becomes inseparable part of one's own Self. It is then only the sunshine of Enlightenment dawns in the horizon of life. In this state the instrument of consciousness which replaces the old, long deceased mind is called chittasattaa. It is like a fried seed. In it there is no possibility of sprouting the leaves of bhoga-vasana. Just like water and waves, water and water bubbles, black pepper and sharpness are one and the same. Same way chittasattaa makes you see the world as dance and consciousness as the dancer. Rama, you are the dancer. All glories to you. You are beginning and endless like solid rock of pure consciousness. Spotless like autumn sky, sparkling waves in the ocean, likewise in you is this world only a play. Just pastimes. You are established in your own pure true nature. In your ocean this wave of Rama form has arisen. But you are all ocean -- vast, unlimited, unbounded and unfathomable. Realize this.

STORY OF KAKABHUSUNDI

In the desert of Sahara, Nevada or Gobi, among those vast storages of sand there is one smallest one of a sand particle. Sunrays reflecting upon that gave birth to the appearance of mirage water. It is this water appearance which is the cause of the world process -- entire Cosmic egg. Seven oceans and seven dwipas, all fourteen lokas, all millions of planets and billions of stars in the space. And kalpas consisting of four billion years, yugas consisting of four million years. And Bramhaa appears in the beginning of creation, whose one day consists of four billion years and his mind born son, I am.

I have my residence in the Star. And I travel or appear in any part of the existence as I will. Once I was visiting the heaven of Indra. I saw great wisemen had been invited there, along with celestial beings and surrounded by them on his throne is sitting the great Indra. They were watching the dance performance based on Ten Incarnations of Lord Visnu. Nymphs were so sensitive and delicate that each of their gestures expressed various pastimes of the Lord Narayana and it melted their heart.

After the dance completed they received me with all the warmth of their heart. And my discourse began. After the discourse a discussion arose about those who lived longest years of Ages. We talked about Sage Narada and Sage Galava.

Then Rishi Shatatapa rose from his seat and spoke:

In the eastern corner of Mount Meru there is a beautiful hill and luminous, gorgeous cave called Padmaraga. There is a large tree of Kalpavriksa. That is lush green, extended far and wide, extremely beautiful, rich with flowers and fruit. Upon the southern boughs of that mighty tree innumerable birds live, chirp, and sing songs of love. Among those birds there is one handsome bird. He is the leader, a guide and a teacher. His name is Kakabhusundi.

There on the top high twig of that tree hangs a soft cozy nest. When breeze blows the nest swings like a cradle. Nearby upon a wide bough, thatched by other birds, is a seat of straw, grass and leaves. There he sits, and surrounding him sit all other birds observing pin-drop silence in anticipation of hearing the words of wisdom emanating from the lips of that might Bhusundi, who lives there in the form of a crow. That bird has the longest life one can even conceive. All in fact, including even Bramhaa, are children to him. He is the ageless, aged and mastermind person of understanding. He is not just immortal but also the supreme wisdom radiates around him. All birds adore him. He discourses on great wisdom. He disperses the clouds of confusion and doubts in a fingersnap like wind to the clouds. To him and near him no knowledge is ever contradictory. All it takes is to assemble them in proper order. And he is efficient and masterminded in that wonderful art.

Hearing the amazing narration of that wonderful crow, O Rama, I decided to visit him. As soon as the Assembly was dissolved I proceeded for Mount Meru. I flew through the vast skies crossing the rolling clusters of clouds, stars, planets, sporting celestials and astral beings. As soon as I entered the vacinity of the holy hill, my eyes dazzled with light inherent with delight. There was no clay or mud. It was as if made of glittering, lighted, shining gems and jewels of innumerable colors. Green grass, trees, vines grew as normal earth. Rivers and fountains flew as normal earth. Lakes and ponds filled with crystal clean water spread the directions with the perfume of their lotuses in the day and lilies in the night. Millions of tulips, goldenrod, daffodils, hibiscus, ivy, dill, spread out shining like colorful gems and jewels.

Like burning fire, great yogis were sitting all over in caves, under trees, in hermitages and at riverbanks. That hill was adorned with milkwhite stream of holy Ganga, like sacred thread upon the shoulder down to the hips as bramhins of India wear. Gandharvas were singing, nymphs were dancing, others playing musical instruments.

Seeing this heart captivating sight I moved further and saw the Kalpavriksa tree, praises of which I heard in heaven. The tree was huge and tall, its boughs spread in all directions. Like gold, like ruby, like amber, garnet and jasper, the fruits and flowers adorned the tree and vines from all sides. Sunrays reflecting. It was like a great festival. Kinneras, vidyadharas and nymphs sitting on leaves and absorbed in song and dance as if bumble bees humming. It was a rich place. All fruits and flowers of six seasons adorned the place throughout the year.

Somewhere there were the swans of Bramhaa and Gayatri, the parrot of Agni, Kartikeya's peacock, Visnu's eagle, Durga's tiger and Shiva's Nandi, Laksmi's owl, Ganesh's mouse, were sitting or roaming around awaiting the call of their boss.

Floating in the air I came to a new spot where upon the boughs of the tree many saintly crows and divine birds were sitting. Just like during dissolution all clouds stay over Lokalok mountain, same way hundreds of birds were sitting there. Most of them were protectors of yagjnas of Soma, Surya, Varuna, Kuber and Indra. Others were messengers of holy ladies to their fargone beloveds. Among them in the center a crow was sitting shining like blue sapphire. A bright light surrounded his form.

Oh, there is him, that illustrious one of whom I heard in heaven. The one who has seen long sequence of kalpas, long line of Indras, many lifetimes of Varuna, Kuber, Yama and other siddhas. The one who is calm, peaceful and relaxed. Who is friend of all, who is like son to the fatherly ones but in order to offer knowledge and best advice he is like father and teacher himself. Who is the embodiment of wisdom. To that great, sagacious bird, I saw.

As soon as I landed in their midst, the waves of breeze touched them and Bhusundi looked, instantaneously he stood up and said--

"O Sage, O wise one, are you okay? O great Vasistha, please come, be seated, please sanctify my nest." We had never met before but he recognized me in very first glance a