Chapter 3.112, Verses 20–27

Yoga Vashishtha 3.112.20–27

(The mind itself is both the trap and the only means of escape from the endless cycle of birth and death)

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच।

तृष्णाग्राहगृहीतानां संसारार्णवरंहसि।

आवर्तैरुह्यमानानां दूरे स्वं मन एव नौः ॥ २०॥

मनसैव मनश्छित्त्वा पाशं परमबन्धनम्।

उन्मोचितो न येनात्मा नासावन्येन मोक्ष्यते ॥ २१॥

या योदेति मनोनाम्नी वासना वासितान्तरा।

तां तां परिहरेत्प्राज्ञस्ततोऽविद्याक्षयो भवेत् ॥ २२॥

भोगौघवासनां त्यक्त्वा त्यज त्वं भेदवासनाम्।

भावाभावौ ततस्त्यक्त्वा निर्विकल्पःसुखीभव ॥ २३॥

अभावनं भावनायास्त्वेतावान्वासनाक्षयः।

एष एव मनोनाशस्त्वविद्यानाश उच्यते ॥ २४॥

यद्यत्संवेद्यते किंचित्तत्रासंवेदनं परम्।

असंवित्तिस्तु निर्वाणं दुःखं संवेदनाद्भवेत् ॥ २५॥

स्वेनैव तत्प्रयत्नेन पुंसः संवेद्यते क्षणात्।

भावस्याभावनं भूत्यै तत्तस्मान्नित्यमाहरेत् ॥ २६॥

रागादयो ये मनसीप्सितास्ते बुद्ध्वेह तांस्तांस्त्वमवस्तुभूतान्।

त्यक्त्वा तदास्याङ्कुरमस्तबीजं मा हर्षशोकं समुपैहि तृप्तः ॥ २७॥

Sage Vashishta further said: 

3.112.20–27

> For those seized by the crocodiles of craving and swept by whirlpools in the rushing Ocean of Worldly existence, their own mind alone is the far-off boat that can save them.

> By cutting the mind’s own noose—the greatest bondage—with the mind itself, if the Self is not freed, nothing else can free it.

> Whatever subtle desire arises under the name of mind and colours the Inner Being, the wise person should abandon it at once; then ignorance is destroyed.

> Give up the desire for streams of enjoyment; give up the desire for differences. Then abandon both existence and non-existence and become free of all mental constructs and be happy.

> Simply not thinking of things is the full end of desires. This very end of the mind is called the end of ignorance.

> Whatever is perceived, non-perception of it is the highest. Non-awareness is liberation; sorrow comes from awareness.

> By one’s own effort a person Realizes this in a moment. Not thinking of “being” brings true welfare; therefore practise it always.

> Know that the likes and dislikes desired by the mind are without real substance. Leave them, so their sprout has no seed left, and do not fall into joy or sorrow; remain content.

Detailed Summary of the Teachings: 

These verses teach that the mind itself is both the trap and the only means of escape from the endless cycle of birth and death. Craving acts like a crocodile and the World like a stormy Ocean; only the mind, when turned inward and controlled by itself, becomes the boat that carries one to safety. No outer force, teacher or ritual can liberate the Self if the mind does not first cut its own bonds of desire and attachment.

The wise are told to watch every subtle tendency the moment it rises and to drop it at once. Desires for pleasure and for seeing differences between things keep ignorance alive. When both the sense of “this exists” and “this does not exist” are set aside, the mind becomes still and free of all restless thinking, and lasting happiness appears.

Simply stopping the habit of mentally creating and holding on to ideas is the complete destruction of latent desires. That same quieting of the mind is the destruction of ignorance itself. Whatever the senses or thoughts present, the highest state is not to grasp or dwell on it; non-awareness of objects is true liberation, while continual awareness of them produces sorrow.

A person can reach this insight by personal effort in a single moment. Therefore the practice of refusing to give mental form to any “thing” or “being” must be kept up constantly, because that refusal itself brings real spiritual growth and prosperity of the soul.

Finally, all likes, dislikes and other mental longings must be seen as empty of substance. Once they are abandoned, the seed of further desire is burned and no new sprout can arise. One then remains calmly content, untouched by the swings of joy and grief that once ruled the mind.