Sri Vasista
One should constantly enquire into oneself into the rea- sons for one's duties with a pure mind, cleansed and sanctified by knowledge of scriptures.
By intellectual enquiry and reflection, mind and intellect become sharpened. Reflection or inquiry alone is the cure for chronic disease of samsara.
The garden of calamities is infinite with widespread canopies of tender leaves. Once axed with the axe of reflection and inquiry, it will never rise again.
O great intellect , delusion is diffused in the all calamitous events (like) death of relatives.The only way to overcome this is reflection and inquiry (into Self).
For scholars there is no other way. By reflection, the mind of good people discards bad and flows towards good.
Power of mind, sharpness of mind, perceptions, fruits of work- all these come to fruition by intelligent reflec- tion and inquiry.
One can cross the ocean of samsara by extensive re- flection (on self). Reflection is a great light for under- standing right and wrong, propriety or other wise. It aids in gaining what one wants.
The lion, called pure self (inquiry into self) inquiry and reflection shatters the wild elephant, called great self delusion, which throws into confusion the heart lotus.
Foolish people miss the Supreme state being over- whelmed by `time'. They can break into the Supreme state with the light of Self-reflection and inquiry into Self.
O Raghava, kingdoms, riches, pleasures and eternal liberation- all these are the fruits of `kalpavriksha' of self inquiry.
Like the `tumboka' fruit which does not sink in water, the mind of a wise man which is enlightened by dis- crimination does not sink into calamities.
Those who act (in the world) prompted by a mind suf- fused with discrimination, will become worthy of very generous (good) results (fruits).
Lack of self reflection is like a road strewn with `caranja' creepers (obtructing all movement on the road). The sorrowful ways of unregenate minds are like such ob- structions in the wild forest of their hearts.
Nonreflection is like slumber induced by liquor. It is dark like the collyreum powder. May you O, Raghava be saved (from such slumber)!.
Like brilliant effulgence is never overwhelmed by dark- ness, a man engaged (constantly) in self inquiry will never be subdued by chronic calamities.
The person, in whose mind - lake the lotuses of Self inquiry bloom, verily shines like Himavan (of snow cov- ered Himalayas).
One who is wanting in Self inquiry or is confused by it, his mind reaches a state of dullness. For him even moon produces lightning and thunder like a demon conceived by a child.
An unintelligent lowly man is like a large multitude of creepers in spring, called grief-causing calamities. O Rama, throw them away to a far distance.
Like a demon who shines in darkness, all bad, evil ini- tiatives, vily actions and troublesome psychological afflictions shine (and get nourished) by lack of Self-in- quiry.
O Raghudvaha, distance yourself from non Self inquiry. Involve yourself in sacred and virtuous actions. Non- inquiry is like a lone tree in a (big) forest.
A mind, which is not excited by desire (which is insen- sitive to desire) is pure, wise and faultless. It will attain perfect happiness like the full moon.
When discrimination arises in a man, it will cool every- thing and adorns immensely everything (around) like moonlight which cools and illuminates the entire world.
Self-inquiry is like a white fan, fanning the flag of the Supreme State in the mind. Men are illumined by Self inquiry, the way night is illumined by moon.
Men who are embellished by Self- inquiry illumine all quarters of the world. These men who ward off all fears of samsara shine effulgently like sun.
The demon conjectured by a child in his imaginative mind in the nightsky can be deadly. But by a simple understanding it can be averted and destroyed.
All senses and feelings and dispositions about the world appear beautiful as long as one does not inquire into them. These ignorant feelings will disappear after (proper) inquiry into them. The conceptions and conjectures by a deluded mind in
the people cause immense grief. These longliving de- mons of the world will get dissolved and destroyed by (proper) inquiry and reflection.
The Supreme gain (fruit) of the tree of reflection and inquiry is that Supreme oneness (kevalibhavam) which is equal, joyful, without any affliction and which is by itself (without any outside support).
From this high and noble steady state of lovely visible condition of energy and light of enjoyment, `nishkamata' freedom from desire arises, the way coolness emerges out of moon.
By the great medicine of Self inquiry and reflection, one achieves steady mind and highest state. Such a one does neither desire anything nor does he reject any- thing.
A mind abiding in the Supreme State does not feel the sense of setting or rising having arrived at the vast light, like the ever abiding sky.
He looks at the world like a delighted witness with a peaceful mind without desiring or giving away anything.
He neither lives inside (himself) nor will he externalize himself. He neither exerts to be inactive without doing any work nor does he engross himself in work and ac- tion.
He is indifferent to the past. He complies with and fol- low what comes to him. He is neither aqitated nor (un- duly) happy. He will be unperturbed like a full ocean.
Thus the noble and wise yogis, the men liberated while in life (Jivanmuktas) live and act in this world with a fulfilled and perfect mind.
Such yogis live as long as they want and then throw away the support of body and attain the oneness with That (the Supreme).
Intelligent people should think about such questions as `who am I, whose world is this', even in times of dis- tress and danger and should strive to offer the right re- action (to the situation).
Even emperors will have to resolve their doubts and questions in times of distress whether the proposed action will be fruit ful or not, by appropriate delibera- tion. There is no other way.
The cause of existence (of the world) is decided and determined upon only by examining and deliberating upon the positions taken by Vedas and Vedanta on the issue, like a torch being used to identify the land in the night.
The beautiful eye, called inquiry and reflection is ex- tremely bright. It is not lost even in darkness (it can wade through unlighted topics). It is very powerful and bril- liant though it appears to be self contradictory with un- even perceptions.
One who is blind to discrimination is really like one born blind. Being wicked and evil in all things, he comes to grief. The one with the divine eye of discrimination will be victorious in everything (he under takes).
Skill in inquiry and reflection is worthy of veneration. It is divine. It gains (for a person) great delight.
People graced by skill in inquiry shine brighter than men of great wisdom. Sharp and ripened skill (in inquiry) is like a sweet mango fruit.
Those people who are led by the lovely lady called in- quiry and reflection on the paths of knowledge will not fall again and again into the drains of sorrow.
The way an ignorant person - lost and corrupted by lack of inquiry and reflection,- grieves, even a person, worn out by hundreds of diseases and calamities will not grieve.
It is better to be a frog in mud or an insect in excrete, or to be a serpent in a dark cave than being a man with- out ability for reflection.
Incapacity or disinclination to reflect and inquire, which is despised by all saints and wise men and which is the harbinger of all misfortunes and calamities, should be discarded.
To be always oriented towards reflection and inquiry is proper for noble and wise people. Reflection is the lone support for those who are sunk in a dark well (of delu- sion).
Through the strength of reflection and inquiry one should establish oneself in one's Self and take the mind across the ocean of wordly delusion.
`who am I? why did I get this blemish of samsara?- a logical inquiry into such questions according to the prin- ciples of `Nyaya' is called `Inquiry'.
An inquiry by a wicked person merely consolidates de- lusion and turns the heart into a stone.
O Raghava, even those who are indifferent to receiv- ing or giving up, who are indifferent to having or not having, do not acquire knowledge without inquiry and reflection.
Through inquiry and reflection knowledge of the Abso- lute is obtained. Because of that repore in the self is attained. Then from that the mind attains spiritual peace, all sorrows having vanished.
People fulfil their ambitions through clear inquiry and reflection and reach perfect states. Become peaceful through inquiry and reflection and shine brilliantly.
