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Master Vashisht: "Now, O Ram, listen to me. Try to follow the
Sastaric (right
path). The goal of mankind (human) can he achieved in this life, which is reached
by means of two paths. One is by the way of Atmic Wisdom; the other, by the ordinary
path, which leads to liberation. Virtuous people will attain liberation by following
the Atmic Wisdom and through the association with the Wise, thus developing high
qualities."
Ram: "I am under control of desires, which I have made in my past lives. My efforts
have not been in the right direction. O Master, what am I to do?"
Master Vashisht: "O Ram, by one's own efforts alone, can the Brahmic or Divine
state be achieved, and by none else. Desires can be classed under two divisions:
that of pure and impure. These desires will cling to future births. If the impure
desires are upper-most in one's life then misery is experienced by its future lives.
In case that pure desires prevail, then liberation is easily acquired. O Ram, with
all thy power, cultivate the Brahmic science. Free thyself of impure desires and
retain the pure. See all things with equal vision and strive to bar that door of
the mind from whence cometh the impure desires; but open all other doors through
which cometh the pure desires. Cast out all impure desires and generate the pure
ones. If doubt arises as to where these pure desires shall lead, thou shouldst continue
to hold them, as no bad can come from them until thy mind has realized the Reality
of Brahm. Always follow the path of Brahm by Veda (the Sacred Knowledge). Let Guru
(spiritual teacher) initiate thee into Brahm. O Ram, may thou remain immovable in
the study of Realization. Free thy mind of impure desires, and with pure desires
attain the Atmic state which is free of all pain and suffering. Kill all thy illusory
thoughts so that they may never be resurrected again. Develop peace or mind and
bliss within thyself. Free thyself of worldly desires and become One with Brahm.
Try to understand the significance of the Holy sentence, "Tat Twamasi" (thou art
that), and meditate upon the Reality."
Rishi Vashisht's Own Story:
"Now listen to Brahm's utterances. Out of the highest Chidakasa (highest Ether)
or wisdom which is all pervading and is the seat or root of all objects, arose Brahm
(Lord of Creation). Vishnu (The Preserver), the earth, and all other objects rose
from his heart. Brahm (Lord of Universe) found that many worthy souls were suffering
in Bharatavarsa (Land of India). He was moved by pity for the liberation of these
souls. He concluded that the cycle of birth or death could not be controlled by
Japa Chanting (of Mantras), Tapa (religious austerities), visiting Holy places,
or by bathing in the Holy Ganges: only through the Atmic Wisdom. By the power of
his will, he created all mankind like unto himself. So, I was born and have paid
my respects to him. I was given a seat on the North side of him. There he cured
me of my illusion which had enveloped me for some time. All my wisdom had deserted
me. My mind became confused and my actions were foolish, as are the actions of the
ignorant. When I came out of this state of mind, He asked me the cause of my misery.
In turn I asked him these questions: "How did this universe arise? How may liberation
be attained?" In answer to these questions, he blessed me with true liberation of
highest state, through which I realized the highest Atmic Wisdom. He said, 'it was
we, who put you under the influence of Maya (illusions) and released you again.
We have ordained that all souls shall be initiated by thy wisdom in order to attain
their liberation. Thou shalt soon go to India which is the Land of Religions. Thou
shalt initiate those who are seeking wisdom into the Atmic Wisdom, but not those
who are lovers of egoism.'
"Accordingly I came to India and will live here as long as humanity exists. I
have no worldly desires, consequently, I will escape that dreamless sleep state
of existence. I have overcome that mental pain and misery, which is experienced
daily throughout the world. O Ram, only those who prefer the Atmic Wisdom to the
material knowledge will know the Atma (self).
"There are four soldiers who guard the road to liberation. They are Patience
(or peace of mind), Atmic Inquiry, Contentment, and Association with the Wise. If
you can succeed in making one of the above a friend, then the others will be easy.
That one will introduce you to the others. Without gaining their friendship, they
will not. permit you to enter upon the road to liberation. So by all means, gain
the friendship of one of the above and start on the road to liberation, for without
liberation there is no end to rebirths. Association with the Wise will mean to you,
what Garuda Mantra means to the persons who have been bitten by the Cobra. (In India
people are cured of the cobra's poisonous bite by chanting Garuda Mantra). Once
that wisdom is attained then that person is safe—no harm can come to that person.
No one can achieve that blissful state by merely inquiring about the Atmic Wisdom.
It must come through self experience or through the help of a Guru. Merely reading
books of wisdom breeds more ignorance. Keep in mind that it will be much better
to live by begging food from the outcasts, than to live an ignorant life. O Ram,
if only one of the four guards is made your friend—namely, Patience is mastered—then
all your miseries and sorrows will fly from you as darkness flies from the light.
Those who have mastered patience will never be upset by poverty or wealth. They
will remain the same in peace or war. They will not make a distinction between birth
and death. These noble people will be higher than the man of mere knowledge, and
will surely attain liberation. May thou, O Ram, attain patience! If Atmic Inquiry
along with patience should be developed, then surely the state of the highest wisdom
will be acquired. This Atmic-inquiry enables one to understand cause and effect,
which is the seed of rebirth. One must rid themselves of all doubt by the power
of discrimination, which is always a shining light. One should always make inquiry
of, 'whence came I?' 'Whence came the universe?' Such inquiries dispel that dark
cloud of ignorance.
"Contentment is the Noble who will set us free of all grief, for such arises
only from the sensual objects of desire. One who has mastered noble contentment
will always be happy. His mind will ever seek the Atmic Wisdom. Persons of contentment
will ever be worshipped by all mankind.
"Association with the Wise will help us to overcome the Maya (illusion). It is
not the bathing in the waters of the Holy Ganges, that is so helpful to the thousands
that throng there each year, but the associations with the wise are more helpful
to self realization than making gifts, sacrifices, etc.. The Wise are like ships
that help us safely across the ocean of rebirths. These four roads are the ways
and means to bliss. O Ram, listen to these stories. They are light, which dispel
the delusion of Maya (illusion). Understand the inner meaning and search deeply
for the Atmic Wisdom. All delusion will perish, and the mind will become calm and
peaceful like the waters of a lake. Such persons will not suffer the disappointments
of life. They will not be affected by the storm of Maya (illusion). They will have
balance of mind as steady as the Himalaya Mountains. The truth seeker who will follow
this path of Atmic Wisdom will always find enjoyment in Samadhi (meditation). This
is the way to Jivanmukta (emancipated embodiment). He is desireless, and nothing
is supernatural to him. Words cannot describe this state of mind. He will move in
this universe like all others, but his mind is free from the bondage of earthly
desires. Good and bad cannot affect him. He will be recognized by others as the
happiest. He will not interfere with the paths of others, but always follow the
path of Atmic Wisdom. After he has reached this attainment, he will never be born
again. He is worthy of all his accomplishments, while others may not be worthy even
of their human birth. He should perform his duties of life earnestly, through earning
and spending correctly. He should ever seek to reach this fourth state of existence
through the Atmic inquiry, keeping his well balanced mind alert, for this state
is obtained only through Atmic inquiry.
"He who attains the fourth state is above thought. If he is the Master of Quietness,
he will surely gain liberation whether he lives with his family or alone; whether
he is performing the daily duties of everyday life or not, he will be one with the
Reality. Follow this path and many analogies will be given out in order that Brahmic
wisdom may be realized within thee, as all have their purpose and aim in the One
principle. The ignorant say that pure wisdom is not subject to analogies. Mixing
of name and form should not be made subject of this inquiry. Such absurd argument
is not worthy, for Wisdom is obtained by the Atmic inquiry. O Ram, thou shouldst
not let thy mind accept thoughts of doubt. Always remember these four: Patience,
Atmic Inquiry, Contentment and Association with the Wise. These four guard the gate
of liberation. No one can secure liberation until his friendship with the four is
developed. This is the road to the attainment of bliss. By attention to the following
stories, thou wilt surely attain wealth of Atmic Wisdom and a happy life.
Yoga Vashisht Chapter Links
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