The descent of spiritual Knowledge
Sri Vasista
The way the essential nature of Brahman is established, that way is called the law of existence. Control accord- ing to that is discipline. Controlling that way is disci- plining.
And so for the sake of your good make your constant companion, your mind one - pointed through intense personal effort. Listen to what I say now.
Desires throw the senses into lowly states. By per- sonal effort control them and bring them to a state of equilibrium.
I shall now tell you syllogisms of distilled knowledge and essential knowledge relating to attainment of liberation for the sake of achieving the fruits of human effort and human purposes in both the worlds.
Once the vasanas of samsara are given up this will free one from rebirths and transmigrations. One will enjoy complete equality and happiness and a generous mind.
This knowledge will unite the mind with the Self, mak- ing the mind equal and destroying the sensual interest through understanding of the logics of scriptural knowl- edge.
I shall tell you O Rama, the ways of liberation which wipes out joys and sorrows and yields supreme bliss. Please listen.
If you listen to this along with men of intelligence, you shall reach that state of sorrowlessness where one does not know any decline.
This knowledge was revealed by Brahma in the earlier kalpa. This knowledge is most consoling and is the de- stroyer of all sorrow.
Sri Rama
O lord, why did Brahma reveal this knowledge earlier? To whom did he reveal? How did you acquire it ? Please tell me.
Sri Vasista
There is one playful, charming, gracious Infinite Self. It abides in all. It is the refuge of all . It is the conscious- ness ether. It is the Indestructible. It energises and lights up all creaction.
Like the waves which arise in the sea due to the joining of water which is prone to oscillations (the all perva- sive), Vishnu was born of the Supreme Self which is with equal form whether vibrating or nonvibrating.
From the navel lotus of Vishnu, Brahma was born. For the navel lotus meru is the core. The stars are follicles. The directions are petals.
That Brahma, who was surrounded by munis and gods, and who knew all the vedas, created all pranas like the deformations of mind.
He created the beings, who were afflicted by mind and body diseases, in Bharathavarsha which was in a cor- ner of the Jambu continent
These beings were stricken by sorrow both by having (riches) and not having. They were constantly in dan- ger of disasters and portentuous events. In this creation the beings were afflicted by manifold vices.
Looking at such a miserable condition, the creator of worlds, Brahma felt pity at the condition like a father who feels for his children.
How can I relieve the sorrow of these disappointed and men of short life? - Brahma thought for a while with con- centration.
Having thought, the great lord created `tapas', `dharma',' `danam', `satyam', `tirtham'
Having created these, Brahma thought again- `with these the sorrow of the beings of this creation will not end'.
`The beatitude of nirvana, free of birth and death is pos- sible only by the knowledge of that, the truth'.
`The only means of crossing (the ocean) of the world is knowledge. `Tapas, Danam, and Tirtham' can not serve this purpose'.
And so, I shall reveal and declare a fresh and new way of liberation from sorrow for these poor wounded, help- less beings'
Having thought thus, the lotus-seated Brahma willed my birth (through his mental resolve).
Like a wave which joins another wave, O sinless one, I - who was born in some way (by maya) - joined my father.
I with my `kamandala' and rosary prostrated and sa- luted Brahma (my father) who was with his rosary and `kamandala'
`Come, my son' - saying thus he seated me on the north- ern petal of his lotus, like moon among white clouds.
Like a swan which converses with ` sarasa' bird, the wearer of the hide of a black antelope, Brahma, spoke to me, wearer of the hide of a black antelope.
`My child, let ignorance enter for a little while into your monkey- like unstable mind like the black spot in moon'.
Cursed thus by him, I have forgotton my pure, immacu- late form and Self.
There I got into a depressed mood of misery with a dull mind and troubled by sorrow and distress like an im- poverished man.
I used to think `how have I landed myself in this prob- lem of samsara!' and fall into a taciturn mood, being disinclined to talk or communicate.
Then my father , Brahma said `my son, why are you so dejected. Ask me the way of getting out of this mood and be happy'.
Asked thus I, seated on the petal of lotus, asked the creator of the three worlds, the cure for the disease of samsara.
`O lord, having come into this most sorrowful world, how does one break out of it?'
Having internalised the supremely sacred knowledge given to me ( by my father) I am abiding like one greater than my father.
Knowing then what is to be known, I sat established in my own real nature. Then the all causing world creator spoke thus.
`My child, I dragged you into the state of ignorance through a curse and made you a questioner for the sake of people at large. This knowledge will be useful to all people.'
`Now , your curse is withdrawn. Like impure gold con- verted into pure gold, you have arrived at that state of supreme knowledge. You now abide in that one - self like me.'
`Now you move to Bharatvarsha, in the rear part of Jambu continent, for the good of the world'.
`My child, instruct the people there interested in rituals, the rules and regulations associated with rituals'.
`To those who are with detached minds and who are highly intellectual and interested in inquiry, teach them the way of acquiring the bliss-giving knowledge.'
Thus appointed by the great father, the lotus-born (Brahma), I am (and will be) sitting here for the sake of all the beings (as long as they exist).
I have no other duty here. One should stay in this world in an `supra mental' state. I am staying here peacefully. I act with a silenced mind. I am not doing anything by myself(or out of ego).
