Three States of Our Existence

Yajnavalkya called on Janaka, Emperor of Videha. He said to himself: I will not say anything. But once upon a time Janaka, Emperor of Videha and Yajnavalkya had had a talk about the Agnihotra sacrifice and Yajnavalkya had offered him a boon. Janaka had chosen the right to ask him any questions he wished and Yajnavalkya had granted him the boon. So it was the Emperor who first questioned him.

Yajnavalkya, what serves as light for a man? The light of the sun, O Emperor, said Yajnavalkya, for with the sun as light he sits, goes out, works and returns. Just so, Yajnavalkya. When the sun has set, Yajnavalkya, what serves as light for a man? The moon serves as his light, for with the moon as light he sits, goes out, works and returns. Just so, Yajnavalkya..When the sun has set and the moon has set, Yajnavalkya, what serves as light for a man? Fire serves as his light, for with fire as light he sits, goes out, works and returns. Just so, Yajnavalkya. Give us, Lord, a share of sunlight, of waters, freedom from sin and communion with the living. Do not tarnish the joy of our hearts for we have put our trust in your name. [Rk Veda I, 104, 6]

When the sun has set, Yajnavalkya and the moon has set and the fire has gone out, what serves as light for a man? Speech (sound) serves as his light, for with speech as light he sits, goes out, works and returns. Therefore, Your Majesty, when one cannot see even one's own hand, yet when a sound is uttered, one can go there. Just so, Yajnavalkya.

Which is the self? This purusha which is identified with the intellect (vijnanamaya) and is in the midst of the organs, the self-indulgent light within the heart (intellect). Assuming the likeness of the intellect, it answers between the two worlds; it thinks, as it were and moves, as it were being identified with dreams, it transcends this waking world, which represents the forms of death (ignorance and its effects). [Br. Upa. IV, III-Investigation of the Three States, 1-5,7].