Posts
Yoga Vashishtha 3.67.65–73
(These verses teach the fundamental unreality of the visible Universe)
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच।
इदमेवमसत्सर्वमिव व्योम्नि ततात्मनि।
पर्वतोच्चाकृतिर्व्योम जगद्व्योम्नि विजृम्भते ॥ ६५॥
नेह प्रजायते किंचिन्नेह किंचिद्विनश्यति।
जगद्गन्धर्वनगररूपेण ब्रह्म जृम्भते ॥ ६६॥
यथैव पद्मजादीनां जीवानां सदसन्मयी।
सत्ता तथैव सर्वेषामासरीसृपमासुरम् ॥ ६७॥
संवित्संभ्रम एवायमेवमभ्युत्थितोऽप्यसन्।
आब्रह्मकीटसंवित्तेः सम्यक्संवेदनात्क्षयः ॥ ६८॥
यथा संपद्यते ब्रह्मा कीटः संपद्यते तथा।
कीटस्तु रूढभूतौघवलनात्तुच्छकर्मकः ॥ ६९॥
यदेव जीवनं जीवे चेत्योन्मुखचिदात्मकम्।
तदेव पौरुषं तस्मिन्सारं कर्म तदेव च ॥ ७०॥
ब्रह्मणः सुकृतात्पापात्कीटकस्य समुत्थितेः।
चित्तन्मात्रात्मिका भ्रान्तिः प्रेक्षामात्रं भवेत्क्षयः ॥ ७१॥
मातृमानप्रमेयाणि न चिन्मात्रेतरद्यतः।
ततो द्वैतैक्यवादार्थः शशशृङ्गाज्जिनीसमः ॥ ७२॥
भावदार्ढ्यात्मकं मिथ्या ब्रह्मानन्दो विभाव्यते।
आत्मैव कोशकारेण लालादार्ढ्यात्मकं यथा ॥ ७३॥
Sage Vashishta continued:
3.67.65–70
> This entire World is unreal, like something appearing in the sky within the Self. The form of a high mountain manifests playfully in the sky of the World.
> Nothing is really born here, and nothing truly perishes. The World appears in the form of a magical city created by Gandharvas, as Brahm playfully expands.
> Just as the existence of Beings like Brahma is both Real and unreal, so is the existence of all creatures from serpents to demons.
> This is only a confusion of Consciousness that has risen in this way, though it is unreal. From the perfect understanding of Consciousness from Brahma down to an insect, there is complete cessation.
> Just as Brahma comes into being, so does an insect. But the insect, due to its attachment to many gross elements and worthless actions, remains lowly.
> Whatever is the life in a living Being, which is Consciousness turned towards objects, that itself is human effort. That alone is the Essence and that alone is action.
3.67.71–73
> From the good and bad deeds of Brahm and the arising of the insect, there is only a delusion in the form of mind. Mere observation leads to its end.
> There are no separate measurer, measure, and measurable other than Pure Consciousness. Therefore, the ideas of duality and non-duality are like the horns of a hare – imaginary and impossible.
> Through firm conviction in Existence, the false appears as the Bliss of Brahm. Just as the silkworm creates a firm cocoon with its saliva, so does the Self.
Summary of the Teachings:
Everything we see is like an illusion or dream appearing in the vast Space of Pure Consciousness, which is the True Self or Brahm. No creation or destruction actually happens; the World is merely a playful appearance without any independent substance. This helps the seeker understand that attachment to worldly forms is misplaced because they lack true existence.
All Beings, from the highest like Brahma to the lowest like insects or demons, share the same nature – their existence is a mixture of apparent reality and underlying unreality. The difference between high and low forms comes from mental confusion and past actions. True Knowledge dissolves this confusion, leading to the Realization that Consciousness is the only Reality, and all distinctions fade away upon proper inquiry.
Human effort and life itself are expressions of Consciousness directed towards objects. What we call "action" or "will" is simply this movement of Awareness. By recognizing this, one sees that the Essence of Life is not in external achievements but in understanding the Conscious Source behind everything. This shifts focus from doing to Being.
The mind and its delusions arise from accumulated impressions of good and bad deeds across Existences. However, these are not permanent. Simple clear observation and inquiry into the Nature of Consciousness can end this delusion entirely. The verses emphasize that liberation comes not through complex rituals but through direct seeing and the cessation of false identification.
Ideas of duality (two) and non-duality (one) are both limited concepts when applied to the Absolute. Pure Consciousness has no divisions or opposites. Firm belief in the illusory world makes it seem solid, like a silkworm trapping itself in its own cocoon. True Bliss comes when one recognizes the Self as the only Reality beyond all appearances.
No comments:
Post a Comment