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"We must understand, in the words of Muni-Kacha, that this
universe in reality
IS NOT, and that it is formed only by the varying intensities of the flow of consciousness.
Consciousness may be compared to a powerful revolving light which leaves in darkness,
that which it illumined so brightly the instant before. Therefore, when the light
of consciousness reveals this universe, the universe seems real. Take away the light
and the world loses reality. So it is that from conscious knowledge and Atmic wisdom
the universe becomes real to us.
"To the seekers after name, fame and pleasure, the house of the mind is founded
on the delusion of birth and death. But the adherents of truth will be free from
these delusions, for birth is but death (or cessation of consciousness) to former
life, and death is birth (or renewed consciousness) into another period of life.
"All is Brahman and the 'I' is Brahman,—relinquish the idea that the universe is
something outside the 'I'. The objects of creation arising from Brahmic wisdom do
not really exist, but are as the foamy spray cast up by the ocean. One principle
alone Brahman is constant, enduring and eternally IS. Pleasure nor pain, nor the
whirlpool of birth and death do not really exist. Brahman alone exists.
"Experience and inference teach the transient nature of fleeting pleasure and
pain. Why then dwell upon them? Forget the past and the future and rest in the neutral
state of truth, putting aside the duality of love and hate. Look equally upon all,
steadfast in the certainty of Atmic wisdom, secure in the stronghold of mind withheld
from worldly objects.
"So may you, O lotus-eyed Ram, be the crystal, which mirrors pain but does not
suffer it.
"Thus Atmic wisdom will flush the dawn of the final birth. For where shall one
seek the lustrous bamboo pearl, but in the bamboo clusters? For in these blessed
ones, nobility, love, benevolence and clarity of intellect find residence, and these
qualities of Atmic wisdom draw to them the people of the world like the melodious
flute brings rapture even to the hearts of kine. "Two paths lead to liberation.
On one, the faithful following of the precepts laid down by a Guru shall let delusion
fall away, to be replaced with emancipation. Peace shall come either in the immediate
birth or in a succeeding birth. The other path is open to one whose mind is already
bulwarked by knowledge, and who will, by meditation, cultivate the fertile seed
into the full blossom of wisdom.
"Of the second path this story is related: An emperor, fearless, generous and
of untold wealth once reigned over this universe. Into his domain never a taint
of jealousy or envy entered. This King, Janak by name, and Videha by reputation,
whose noble heart embraced the world, was a true protector of his people.
"In the first days of vernal spring King Janak walked in his charming garden
among his fragrant flowers. Without its gates the guards were stationed. Strolling
about, the King heard the murmuring voices of the Sidhas (they who have attained
the One-ness) from the hills. Hear attentively, O Ram, the songs of the Sidhas—they
who have withdrawn from the pleasures of the visible.
"Chanted a Sidha…
"'In the union of the Knower and the Known lies the bliss or wisdom. Seek this
wisdom, so that the unreal many become the real.'
"Another sang…
"'Desire will destroy the visible. Contemplate Atmic reality—the beacon to the
eagle vision of higher spirituality.'
"From the chorus of voices…
"'Having become all-pervading, like he who sits between truth and untruth, meditate
always upon Atmic wisdom, the Light of Lights.
"'To seek without for God, is like one who goes in quest of bright bits of glass,
unmindful of the jewel blazing his own hand.
"'Atma is attained only by those who have controlled their desires. Those who
recklessly entangle themselves in the quick sands of human experience, knowing better,
can only be called asses.
"'The hissing serpents of the desirous organs must be slain by the mind; just
as the great god Indra levelled the mountains to dust by his thunderbolt.
"The mind, free from delusion which calmly surveys all as one, will attain Atmic
Reality—the plenum of complete bliss. This is liberation.
"The sage counsels of the Sidhas, awoke consternation in the mind of King Janak.
He left behind his cool scented garden, entered his palace and dismissed his attendants.
"Seeking a quiet apartment on the top floor of his palace, he gave himself to
meditation upon the wise utterances of the Sidhas. In contemplation he hoped to
discover the true meaning of these blissful counsellors. He thought how the people
of the world were like birds forever on the wing, fluttering hither and thither
from this bush to that flower, only to drop at last with weariness, and perish.
The good King cried out in his anguish of mind.
"'Annoyances beset me. Worries, doubts and circumstances enmesh me in this uncertain
world. I spin about like a leaf in a whirlpool. When I reflect that time in its
true nature is eternal. I cannot but deem the one hundred years of my life, as a
moment in eternity. Why, then, do I value my life so greatly and allow my strong
desires to throw me into confusion and dejection? What greater debasement than a
mind despoiled of tranquility? That I should consider for a moment this unsettled
existence. This world of pain I rule is but an atom among the countless universes.
Search as I will, I can find nothing which remains constant and beneficent, even
for a fleeting moment. Behold the incongruities of this world. The greatest shall
be dust, even as the lowliest. Wealth! Have I fancied riches real? Name and fame!
The great men of ancient times and their valorous deeds have vanished. Where, then,
is the certainty that the achievements of my time shall persist?
"'The myriad worlds with their rulers and wealth have perished, like sand washed
into the sea. Where, O my distraught mind, have these universes gone? So shall this,
my world, go the way of eternity. My desires and my illusions have led me to believe
in a permanency, which does not exist. My many deaths have taught me nothing. When
shall the blessed time come when I shall seek and find THAT, which has no
end? About me the objects of the world wear the shrouds of destruction. Every instant
of every day, the ignorant walk the paths of perdition their bodies enacting the
baneful deeds of pleasure and pain. In youth they are unwise; maturity finds them
entangled in the meshes of passion and the burden of the world bows them down in
old age.
"'Harassed from birth to death, doing the deeds of desire, how can they find
time to pursue virtue and seek the eternal truth? Illusion dances in this world
like a will-o-wisp, and my mind dances in unison with illusion—both specters of
the Real in this unreal theatre.
"'Untruth is an excrescence upon the Crown of Truth, and pain thrusts its talons
into the side of Virtue. Since pain is the accompaniment of pure and impure pleasure
alike, how may we discern the difference between them? If between the opening and
closing of my eyes many Brahmans are created and destroyed, what is my puny self
before them? Great wealth breeds pain in the mind of its owner, but a thing fraught
with peril, becomes a source of 'happiness, for a mind which controls it rightly.
It is only the worldly life which is the source of pain. Can happiness enter a life
submerged in worldliness? The tree of the ignorant mind sprouts from the root of
delusion and its branches bear poison fruits.
"'Mind is the thinking principle. By the discipline of thought, the mind itself
can easily be controlled. The extinction of delusion controls birth and death. Oh,
I know at last the thief who has robbed me of the Atmic jewel of my Self. His name
is Mind. Long and grievously I have suffered, I shall impale him with his own bright
sword of thought.
"'Until now I have not been able to pierce the pearl of mind. Now I will string
this pearl upon the strand of experience, and with it adorn my person. I have listened
well to the wise counsels of the omniscient Sidhas. At last I rest in the bliss
in which the great Brahman floats. The unrealities of me and thee have dropped away,
and I will never permit them to return.
Victory is mine over the mighty adversary of mind, who despoiled me of Atmic
wisdom, and pain has ceased its affliction. I have attained the life of sustained
peace. Great wisdom has rolled back the ponderous door to freedom; my adoration
is thine.'
"Thus did King Janak rest motionless in Samadhi, having controlled the fluctuation
and vacillation of his mind. After a long period of Samadhic bliss he looked anew
upon his world, his vision cleared of the fog of desire. He reflected that he had
no objective for which to strive in this world. His clear sight scrutinized the
world for illusion and found pure wisdom.
"'I know nothing,' he rejoiced, 'but my immaculate divine wisdom, the realization
of my Self. I shall neither seek nor turn from any object in this world. I shall
remain constant in my divine Self. Events will transpire as pre-ordained.' So saying,
the King was enveloped in Brahmic bliss.
"As the warm sun in the sky, without volition or desire, causes the growth of
seeds in the ground, so King Janak performed the duties, which arise daily without
exultation or longing. Giving heed neither to the past nor the future, productive
as such cogitation is of discontent,. King Janak met the present serenely, with
an undivided heart and mind.
"The Atmic enquiry engendered by the words of the Sidhas, brought quiescence
of mind, O Ram, to the ruler of the world, King Janak; for the wisdom of Atma can
be attained only by the pure and beautiful Atmic enquiry, and not by following the
ways of the worldly. For worldlings long for other goals than Atma, and realization
comes only to those who have sought it faithfully. Therefore, O Ram, destroy ignorance,
which slinks like a hungry wolf on the desert, that is the world.
"To the wise, the precious jewel of wisdom enthroned in their minds, will bring
in a moment whatsoever they wish, like the Kalpa tree which produced any fruit one
desired. Love and hate cannot dent the armour of those who dwell in Atmic bliss.
The dense mist of egoism screening the Sun of Brahman obscures the intelligence,
and will be cleared only by the heavenly wind of divine wisdom. He who aspires to
the Supreme Brahmic throne must banish desires from his mind, for is not the ground
well-tilled before the planting of the seed?"
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