Sage Wisdom (contd.)

Sage Vashishtha continues,

  "O Rama,when maya, the basis on which the phenomenal world exists, gets destroyed there arises 'divine bliss' (divya ananda). The moment one tries to understand this maya, it disappears!"  (Y V II.6)

   This 'maya' is the avidya or ignorance (not absence of knowledge but buddhi covered by attachment/moha) that is the basis, upadhi, of the sensate world. It is difficult to know what this maya is since it will not come within our grasp. 'Maya' is inexplicable since it does not exist, just like darkness in the presence of the Sun, ignorance in the presence of knowledge, and the fear of a snake that disappears as soon as the light falls on the rope (mistaken as the snake).  For instance, all our knowledge, objective world, relations, possessions, etc disappear as soon as deep sleep takes over us; so also, nothing exists when we are unconscious! Enlightenment, 'Realization of the Self' (atmasakshatkar), acts as the light/knowledge that removes darkness/ignorance.. 

  "Dear Rama, see how bewitching is this world of maya. One forgets his Self (atman) under its spell." (Y.V. II 7)

   There is no difference between the backdrops and the settings of a Theater showing the forests and rivers, street scenes, etc on a screen for a drama and the real world of theatrics, masks worn by people, or the tricks played by people in real life! For example, a police officer in his/her uniform will never realize that he is playing a role in the drama of life just as he/she was playing hide and seek, police and thief, teacher and student games in childhood! The day he/she retires and nobody salutes him/her the realization dawns!! Some people remain in a daze and still call themselves a retired police officer even though nobody cares for him/her; so also is the case of a judge or a principal of a college or a minister in the Government! Such is the foolishness of the humans. Maya is deluding. 

  The learned Sage continues,
   "All visible things are mere reflections on the vast mirror of 'chit' or Consciousness, knowledge of the self-existent Eternal Being (Paramatman)- like the reflections of the moon in a lake, or a thousand moons in a thousand water-filled pots on a moonlit night! (YV II 8-9).

  "The illusory sansar bondage, (samsara bandhana) becomes stronger with the desire of the jiva for community life, attachment, communication, social contacts, and desire for sensuous objects in the absence of the reality of the nature and the 'Knowledge of the Self'. The moment this desire disappears, the sensuous world also disappears! (Yoga Vashsishtha, II 11-12).

  "The mind always indulges in various kinds of imaginations swiftly and willfully, thereby creating an imaginary world  that looks real and attractive." (YV II 14)  In reality, there exists no such world but for this imagination by the mind. It is the desire, resolve (sankalpa) of the foolish jiva that drives it to action like running after a mirage in the desert. Fools do not realize the underlying brahman just as the fool who has not seen gold sees only the golden ring, but not the underlying gold in it, says the Sage Vashishtha!

   A yogi, jnyani, an enlightened person, sees brahman in everything; the illusory world disappears as soon as the enlightenment dawns on him. He realizes the truth- 'brahman', and the fact that 'only brahmn exists and all else are its manifestations in diverse forms and functions only like the shadow under the light.

  It is this 'knowledge of brahman' (brahm jnyan) that makes the prince of Ayodhya, Sri Ramachandra, a divine being like the Buddha who enters nirvana (brahmn) on enlightenment! Brahmn is nothing but nirvana, a still mind- unwavering, thoughtless, or a still state. Nothing exists thereafter! This is the 'Realization of the Self'.

[Note: These simple words of Sage Vashishtha can be contemplated upon for the rest of life and a flash of Light may suddenly appear anytime during this transcendental meditative state! Try this only if you are free from all family and social responsibilities.]