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Yoga Vashishtha 2.14.21–29
(Practice Discernment - aka correct thinking, to transcend the delusions of the mind and attain Spiritual Realization)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
विविक्तं हि मनो जन्तोराशावैवश्यवर्जितम् ।
परां निर्वृतिमभ्येति पूर्णचन्द्र इवात्मनि ॥ २१ ॥
विवेकितोदिता देहे सर्वं शीतलयत्यलम्।
अलंकरोति चात्यन्तं ज्योत्स्नेव भुवनं यथा ॥ २२ ॥
परमार्थपताकाया धियो धवलचामरम् ।
विचारो राजते जन्तो रजन्यामिव चन्द्रमाः ॥ २३ ॥
विचारचारवो जीवा भासयन्तो दिशो दश ।
भान्ति भास्करवन्नूनं भूयो भवभयापहाः ॥ २४ ॥
बालस्य स्वमनोमोहकल्पितः प्राणहारकः।
रात्रौ नभसि वेतालो विचारेण विलीयते ॥ २५ ॥
सर्वं एव जगद्भावा अविचारेण चारवः ।
अविद्यमानसद्भावा विचारविशरारवः ॥ २६ ॥
पुंसो निजमनोमोहकल्पितोऽनल्पदुःखदः।
संसारचिरवेतालो विचारेण विलीयते ॥ २७ ॥
समं सुखं निराबाधमनन्तमनपाश्रयम्।
विद्धीमं केवलीभावं विचारोच्चतरोः फलम् ॥ २८ ॥
अचलस्थितितोदारा प्रकटाभोगतेजसा ।
तेन निष्कामतोदेति शीततेवेन्दुनोदिता ॥ २९ ॥
Maharishi Vashishta said:
2.14.21: The mind of a Being, when detached and free from the bondage of desires, attains Supreme Peace, like the full moon resting in its own nature.
2.14.22: The discernment that arises in the body thoroughly cools everything and greatly adorns it, just as moonlight illuminates and beautifies the world.
2.14.23: The intellect, adorned with the white banner of Ultimate Truth, shines through discernment in a Being, like the moon glowing in the night.
2.14.24: Living Beings, through the practice of discernment, illuminate all ten directions, shining like the sun, dispelling the fear of worldly existence.
2.14.25: The terrifying ghost of delusion, conjured by the mind of an ignorant person in the darkness of the night, is dissolved through discernment.
2.14.26: All worldly phenomena, when unexamined, appear attractive but are unreal; through discernment, their illusory nature is revealed and dissolved.
2.14.27: The endless suffering caused by the mind’s delusion, like a long-standing ghost of worldly existence, is dissolved through discernment.
2.14.28: Know that the State of Pure Being—equanimous, Blissful, unobstructed, Infinite, and independent—is the fruit of the highest discernment.
2.14.29: From the Noble State of unwavering Stillness, radiant with the splendor of manifest enjoyment, arises a cool Tranquility, like that inspired by the moon.
Summary of the Teachings:
The verses from Yoga Vasishta 2.14.21 to 2.14.29 emphasize the transformative power of discernment (vichara) in achieving Spiritual Realization and Inner Peace. The text illustrates that a mind freed from desires and attachments attains a State of Supreme Tranquility, likened to the serene glow of a full moon. This detachment is not merely an absence of desire but a profound Clarity that allows one to rest in their True Nature, unburdened by the fluctuations of worldly cravings. The metaphor of the moon underscores the natural, effortless radiance of a purified mind, which is calm, self-contained, and at peace with itself.
Discernment is portrayed as a cooling and illuminating force, much like moonlight that soothes and beautifies the world. It purifies the body and mind, dispelling the heat of Ignorance and adorning the individual with Wisdom. The verses suggest that this process of discernment is not just introspective but has a universal impact, illuminating all directions like the sun. This radiant Clarity dispels the fears and anxieties tied to worldly existence, offering a path to Realization by revealing the impermanent and illusory nature of material phenomena.
The teachings further highlight the deceptive allure of the world when viewed through an unexamined mind. Ignorance creates delusions that manifest as fearsome entities, like ghosts conjured in the darkness of night. These delusions, born of mental constructs, cause suffering and perpetuate the cycle of samsara (worldly existence). However, through the practice of discernment, these illusions are dissolved, revealing their non-existence. The text emphasizes that what appears real and enticing in an unreflective state loses its hold when subjected to the scrutiny of wisdom.
The culmination of discernment is described as the State of “kevali bhava,” or Pure Being, characterized by Equanimity, Infinite Bliss, and Freedom from all obstructions. This state is independent, requiring no external support, and represents the Ultimate fruit of Spiritual Inquiry. The verses suggest that such a state is not fleeting but stable, like an unwavering foundation radiating with the splendor of realized truth. This Realization brings a cool, Tranquil Joy, akin to the soothing presence of moonlight, which arises naturally from a mind anchored in discernment.
In essence, these verses advocate for the practice of discernment as a means to transcend the delusions of the mind and attain Spiritual Realization. By cultivating a disciplined, introspective Awareness, one can dismantle the false constructs of the world, overcome suffering, and abide in a State of Pure, Blissful Being. The metaphors of the moon and sun serve to illustrate the illuminating and purifying effects of this practice, guiding the individual toward a life of Clarity, Peace, and Ultimate Freedom.
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