Chapter 3.114, Verses 41–48

Yoga Vashishtha 3.114.41–48

(Ignorance is controlled not by force but by simply stopping the mind from creating imaginative thoughts about it)

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच।

असंकल्पो ह्यविद्याया निग्रहः कथितो बुधैः।

यथा गगनपद्मिन्याः स भाति सुकरः स्वयम् ॥ ४१॥

भ्रमस्य जागतस्यास्य जातस्याकाशवर्णवत्।

अपुनःस्मरणं मन्ये साधो विस्मरणं वरम् ॥ ४२॥

नष्टोऽहमिति संकल्पाद्यथा दुःखेन नश्यति।

प्रबुद्धोऽस्मीतिसंकल्पाज्जनो ह्येति यथा सुखम् ॥ ४३॥

तथा संमूढसंकल्पान्मूढतामेति वै मनः।

प्रबोधोदारसंकल्पात्प्रबोधायानुधावति ॥ ४४॥

क्षणात्संस्मरणादेषा ह्यविद्योदेति शाश्वती।

यस्माद्विस्मरणादन्तः परिणश्यति नश्वरी ॥ ४५॥

भावनी सर्वभावानां सर्वभूतविमोहिनी।

भारिणी स्वात्मनो नाशे स्वात्मवृद्धौ विनाशिनी ॥ ४६॥

मनो यदनुसंधत्ते तत्सर्वेन्द्रियवृत्तयः।

क्षणात्संपादयन्त्येता राजाज्ञामिव मन्त्रिणः ॥ ४७॥

तस्मान्मनोनुसंधानं भावेषु न करोति यः।

अन्तश्चेतनयत्नेन स शान्तिमधिगच्छति ॥ ४८॥

Sage Vashishta continued:

3.114.41–48

> The wise have said that the restraint of ignorance is simply the absence of imaginative resolve. Just as restraining a lotus growing in the sky appears easy by itself.

> Of this Worldly delusion that has arisen like the colour of the sky, O good one, I consider the better path to be forgetting it completely so that it is not remembered again.

> Just as a person perishes in sorrow from the resolve “I am destroyed,” and attains happiness from the resolve “I am awakened,”

> so the mind falls into delusion through a deluded resolve, and runs toward awakening through a noble resolve of awakening.

> From a single moment of remembrance this ignorance, which seems eternal, arises; from forgetfulness within, it is destroyed as something perishable.

> Ignorance is the imaginer of all Beings and the deluder of every creature. She sustains herself by destroying the True Self and is destroyed when the True Self grows.

> Whatever the mind continuously contemplates, all the activities of the senses instantly accomplish it, just as ministers carry out the command of a King.

> Therefore, one who does not allow the mind to keep contemplating objects, through the effort of inner awareness, attains peace.

Summary of the teachings:

These verses teach that ignorance is controlled not by force but by simply stopping the mind from creating imaginative thoughts about it. Just as a lotus in the sky needs no real effort to be restrained because it does not exist, ignorance also loses power when the mind refuses to give it further attention or belief.

The world-delusion is compared to the colour of the sky—something that appears real but has no substance. The best remedy is complete forgetting. Once the mind stops recalling and reinforcing the sense of limitation, the delusion fades of its own accord.

Thought itself is shown to be powerful. A single strong resolve of “I am finished” can fill a person with sorrow, while the resolve “I am awake” brings happiness. In the same way, deluded thinking deepens bondage, and clear thinking of awakening leads the mind steadily toward freedom.

Ignorance seems permanent only because it is repeatedly remembered. A moment of attention gives it life; deliberate inner forgetfulness ends it. Ignorance feeds on the denial of the true Self and dies when the true Self is recognised and strengthened.

Finally, the mind is the master of the senses. Whatever it dwells upon, the senses immediately set out to fulfil. Therefore lasting peace comes only when a person, through conscious inner effort, stops the mind from continuously chasing objects and ideas. When that restless pursuit ends, natural Stillness arises.