Attributes of A Teacher and Questioner
Sri Vasista
I have narrated to you the `descent of knowledge' into this world, guided by the lotus-born and my striving for it (the knowledge).
O sinless one, because of great merit, your mind is eager to hear about this supreme knowledge.
Sri Rama
O knower of Brahman, why did the idea of `descent of knowledge' into the world arise in the mind of Brahma?
Sri Vasista
Brahma, who is a knower of Brahman, is by nature full of vibrations the way a sea is full of waves.
The great Lord saw the time- bound beings of creation being afflicted by all kinds of problems.
The Lord felt compassion for the people agitated by delusion and bewilderment as the action-filled aeons like krita pass by.
Then (with this thought in mind) Brahma, the Lord cre- ated me. He established me in knowledge. Having done so, He dropped me on to the earth with the mission of relieving people of their ignorance.
The way He despatched me to the earth, He sent sages Sanatkumara and Narada and such to the earth (with the same mission).
The mission is to lift people out of their mental delusion through an orderly progression to knowledge through meritorious activity.
In spite of these efforts of Seers and Sages, the purity of the activities started declining after Krita age.
They then divided the earth into various regions, caused kings to rule them, to protect the scriptural ac- tivities, protocols and traditions.
After that, they created and produced scriptures and philosophical texts to serve the human needs of `dharma artha and kama'.
As the wheel of time rolled on, people got engrossed in daily routines of sumptuous dinners and riches to the decline of knowledge concerns.
Kings were engaged in the material pursuits. Common people, (pursuing such material concerns) indulged in punishable crimes.
Thus Kings could not rule their regions without wars and skirmishes. They could not save people from the consequent miseries.
Then, it became imperative for the likes of us to preach the perspectives of knowledge to deliver these people from their miseries.
This spiritual knowledge about Self was initially given to the kings. What was given later to the common people was known as kingly knowledge (Raja vidya).
O Raghava, this supreme knowledge, the Supreme Secret is the best knowledge. Knowing this kings will become sorrowless.
After that, many great kings of immaculate fame passed away. Now O Rama, you are born on this earth to Emperor Dasaratha.
O slayer of foes, now this beautiful detachment has arisen, without any cause, in your clean and transpar- ent mind.
Even in the best of sadhus and intelligent people with discrimination, detachment based on or due to a cause generates arrogance.
(However) the detachment born in you without any cause out of your own intellectual discrimination, is sattwic (equilibrial and peaceful). All are amazed at this.
Who will not become detached when he sees some- thing terrible? The best detachment arises only out of discriminating intelligence.
Detachment arises without motive or cause only in those great masters of knowledge with pure mind.
Like a youth who looks graceful with a garland, those who are detached by intelligent inquiry shine brightly.
Those, who arrive at detachment through an intelligent inquiry into this (manifest) world, are the best of people.
Inquiring again and again (repeatedly) with one's own discriminating intelligence the internal and external web of deceit and magic should be given up (discarded).
Who will not become detached when he sees misery, danger and a cemetery? The detachment that arises out of one's own volition (spontaneously) is the best detachment and most beneficial.
Having achieved pure detachment, you are the most deserving to receive instruction in knowledge, like sow- ing seed in a proper soil.
The mind of people like you progresses towards dis- criminatory intelligence due to the grace of the great Lord of the worlds.
Discrimination arises out of orderly activities, great askesis, regulated life, by giving gifts and pilgrimages.
(All) sins will vanish. By chance occurence the mind will prevail in inquiry about the Supreme Truth.
So long as people do not perceive the Supreme state, they whirl around overwhelmed by actions motivated by desires.
Like an elephant free from its anchor, The Supreme Truth can be achieved when one discards the mind filled with the snares of the physical world.
O Rama, vile and infinite is the movement of this world. The beings with bodies can not see this without knowl- edge.
O Son of Raghu dynasty, men of great intelligence can cross this (ocean of samsara) only by the ferry of knowl- edge.
Listen to this way of knowledge with concentration. It will let you cross the ocean of samsara.
If you do not equip yourself with this weapon of knowl- edge, the immense and infinite world of beginnings and activities stir (in you) fears of sorrow and burns the in- sides for a long time.
O Rama, except by this weapon of knowledge, how else the sadhus are able to tolerate heat and cold and such dualities?
These sorrows and thoughts about them befall the people every instant constantly and burn them away like fire burning straw.
The way fire is unable to burn a drenched forest, spiri- tual knowledge, that is to be known, and integrated per- ception (of the world) do not burn the beings.
One who knows the truth remains unmoved, like a kalpa tree, even though afflicted by mental and physical dis- eases and wafted and blown around by the hot desert winds of `samsara'.
`I shall know the truth' - with this determination, an intel- ligent person should approach with affection (and respect)one who is an authority and an awakened self and who is worthy of being questioned (worthy of be- ing a teacher).
One should receive with perfect mind the words and teachings of such an authority, the way a cloth receives the vermillion colour.
O best of orators, he, who questions one who is not knowledgeable about Truth and who can not impart knowledge, is a fool. There can be no greater fool than him.
One who does not practice the words and teachings of a knower of Truth after questioning him, is no other than a lowly being.
Who ever decides before questioning the knowledge or other wise of the teacher and asks with reference to his (the questioner) practice, he is a man of great intel- ligence.
Without such determination or judgement whoever questions like a child, he is lowly and is not worthy of the Supreme Knowledge.
One should teach (or answer questions) to one who can grasp the pros and cons of a teaching and not to one who is of animal nature.
One, who preaches or imparts knowledge without know- ing the abilities of the questioner to grasp the answers, is the most foolish teacher.
O son of Raghu dynasty, you are an excellent ques- tioner. I know how to reply (with good articulation). Ours is a balanced relationship.
O scholar of words and interpretations, you decide the truth of whatever to say and practice it without hesita- tion.
You are great. You are not attached to things. You are living among knowers of Truth. Whatever I say will be absorbed by you like the vermillion colour sticking to a cloth.
You (can) concentrate intensely on what is said. You discriminate between the Supreme Truth (and others). Your all-wise intelligence can (easily) enter into the meanings (of words) like the rays of Sun penetrating the waters.
Whatever I say try to receive it into your heart and act. Do not question purposelessly.
O Rama, mind is like a monkey moving about in this world-forest, A heart purified by heart is fit to hear the Supreme Word.
Only sadhus are worthy of worship. Keep away from the unintelligent, ignorant and bad people for ever.
Association with noble and good people yields discrimi- natory intelligence. Enjoyment and liberation are the fruits of the tree of viveka (discriminatory intelligence).
Four are said to be the keepers of the gate of Libera- tion : peace, inquiry, joy and association with sadhus.
These are to be striven for. If not four, atleast two or three of them should be worked for. Thus the gates of the palace of Liberation can be blown open.
(If not all) at least one of them should be achieved even at the risk of life. Once one is possessed, the rest come into posession.
The one with discrimination (viveka) is worthy of scrip- tures, knowledge, askeris and sruti (inspired scripture). He is jewel among people like sun among shining ob- jects.
The sluggishness of intelligence in the dull minds gradu- ally reaches solidity and (complete) dullness like water becoming hard ice (due to coldness).
However, O Rama, with your nobility, goodness and scientific inquiry, you abide with awakened mind and internal instruments like a lotus in bloom.
O noble minded one, you shall know this by listening to the words of knowledge like deer which appreciates the sound of lyre listening to it with erect ears.
O Rama, acquire the wealth of equality and nobility through the practice of detachment.
At first practice askesis and selfcontrol with the help of scriptures, association with noble people for the sake of liberation from samsara. Even your intelligence will increase.
If one studies and understands the scripture even with a little purified mind, the ignorance and foolishness of that person will be erased.
The poisonous tree of samsara is the refuge of all ca- lamities. Ignorance is continously deceiving and delud- ing people. Such stupidity can be wiped out with effort.
The heart is bound by the snake of avarice and stupid- ity. Mind becomes shrivelled by them like a burnt skin.
The spiritual point of view about reality manifests in a delightful manner in the wise masters of knowledge. It is like the clear moon pleasantly visible in a clear sky.
The one with a bright bloom of mind and skilled in graceful and dextrous debate and inquiry into the mean- ings and interpretations is called as `purusha'.
You are shining bright like the moon in the sky, who drives away darkness. You are effulgent with the soft light of excellent inquiring ability and a heart of great qualities.
