Posts
Yoga Vashishtha 3.9.71–76
(What is Consciousness or the Ultimate Reality?)
महर्षि वशिष्ठ उवाच।
यस्त्वमेकोऽवभासात्मा योऽहमेते जनाश्च ये ।
यश्च न त्वमबुद्धात्मा नाहं नैते जनाश्च यः ॥ ७१ ॥
अन्येवाप्यतिरिक्तेव सैवासेव च भङ्गुरा ।
पयसीव तरङ्गाली यस्मात्फुरति दृश्यभूः ॥ ७२ ॥
यतः कालस्य कलना यतो दृश्यस्य दृश्यता ।
मानसी कलना येन यस्य भासा विभासनम् ॥ ७३ ॥
क्रियां रूपं रसं गन्धं शब्दं स्पर्शं च चेतनम् ।
यद्वेत्सि तदसौ देवो येन वेत्सि तदप्यसौ ॥ ७४ ॥
द्रष्टुरदर्शनदृश्यानां मध्ये यद्दर्शनं स्थितम् ।
साध्यो तदवधानेन स्वात्मानमवबुध्यसे ॥ ७५ ॥
अजमजरमनाद्यं शाश्वतं ब्रह्म नित्यं शिवममलममोघं वन्यमुच्चैरनिन्द्यम्।
सकलकलनशून्यं कारणं कारणानामनुभवनमवेद्यं वेदनं विश्वमन्तः ॥ ७६ ॥
Maharishi Vashishta said:
3.9.71: You are the one Pure Consciousness that shines as the Self in all Beings —yourself, myself, and all these people. Yet, you are not the ignorant Self, nor am I, nor are these people the ignorant Self. The True Self is the Singular, Radiant Consciousness that transcends the illusion of individuality.
3.9.72: This Consciousness appears distinct, yet it is not separate; it seems to exist, yet it is fleeting and ephemeral, like waves rising and falling in water. From this Consciousness alone, the entire perceptible world emerges, manifesting as the visible Universe.
3.9.73: From this Consciousness arises the concept of Time, the perception of the visible world, and the mental constructs of imagination. It is through the radiance of this Consciousness that all phenomena are illuminated and made manifest.
3.9.74: The actions, forms, tastes, smells, sounds, touch, and awareness that you perceive—all these are that Divine Consciousness. And the very capacity by which you perceive them is also that same Divine Consciousness.
3.9.75: Between the Seer, the act of seeing, and the seen, there exists the pure act of seeing itself, which is the Essence of Consciousness. By focusing on this Pure Awareness, you come to Realize your True Self, the Eternal Consciousness.
3.9.76: This Consciousness is Unborn, Ageless, without beginning, Eternal, and Pure. It is auspicious, unblemished, infallible, sublime, and beyond reproach. It is free from all mental constructs, the cause of all causes, unknowable through ordinary means, yet the very essence of Knowing, encompassing the entire Universe within itself.
Summary of the Teachings:
The teachings of these verses from the Yoga Vasishta, as spoken by Sage Vasishta, center on the non-dual nature of Consciousness as the Ultimate Reality. In the first verse (3.9.71), Vasishta emphasizes that the True Self is the Singular, Radiant Consciousness that underlies all Beings—whether it is "you," "I," or "others." This Consciousness is distinct from the ignorant, ego-bound self that perceives individuality. The teaching establishes that the Essence of all Existence is one Universal Consciousness, unbound by the limitations of personal identity. This sets the foundation for understanding the Unity beneath the apparent diversity of the world.
In the second and third verses (3.9.72–3.9.73), Vasishta elaborates on the nature of this Consciousness as the Source of the manifest world. The world, with its forms and phenomena, is likened to waves arising and dissolving in the ocean of Consciousness. These verses highlight the ephemeral and illusory nature of the perceived world, which arises from Consciousness and is sustained by it. The concepts of time, perception, and mental constructs are all products of this Consciousness, which illuminates all experiences. This teaching underscores the idea that the external world is not an independent Reality but a projection of Consciousness, akin to a dream arising in the mind.
The fourth verse (3.9.74) deepens this understanding by asserting that all sensory experiences—actions, forms, tastes, smells, sounds, touch, and even awareness itself—are manifestations of the same Divine Consciousness.
Moreover, the very act of perceiving these phenomena is also an expression of this Consciousness. This teaching dissolves the distinction between the Knower, the Known, and the process of Knowing, revealing that all are unified in the Singular Reality of Consciousness. It invites the seeker to recognize that both the objects of perception and the capacity to perceive are rooted in the same Divine Essence.
The fifth verse (3.9.75) provides a practical approach to Realizing this Truth. Vasishta instructs that by focusing on the Pure act of seeing—the Awareness that exists between the Seer and the seen—one can transcend the duality of subject and object. This practice of Attentive Awareness leads to the direct Realization of the True Self as Eternal Consciousness. The teaching emphasizes meditation on Pure Awareness as a path to Self-Realization, encouraging the seeker to shift attention from external objects and the ego to the unchanging Essence of Consciousness itself.
The final verse (3.9.76) glorifies the nature of this Consciousness as Eternal, Pure, and transcendent. Described as Unborn, Ageless, and free from all mental constructs, it is the ultimate cause of all existence, yet it remains beyond ordinary comprehension. This verse encapsulates the non-dual philosophy of the Yoga Vasishta, portraying Consciousness as the all-encompassing Reality that contains the universe within itself. Collectively, these verses guide the seeker toward recognizing the illusory nature of the world, understanding the Unity of all Existence in Consciousness, and Realizing the Self through focused Awareness, ultimately leading to liberation from the cycle of Ignorance and suffering.
No comments:
Post a Comment