Establishing the nonexistence of mind stuff
Sri Vasista
O mighty Rama, after inquiring thus about mind, knowers of truth, mull about Self which is to be comprehended.
'This world is Self alone' - this truth is realized through mind. Oh! mind is not real (and yet it has helped in the understanding of truth). How did this happen?
Mind is nonexistent since it is inconscient. It has no knowledge by itself. By the very nature of 'Maya', mind is nonexistent. That it is 'not' is confirmed. It is an illusion like a tree in the sky.
For a child in a moving boat, a tree on the coast appears to be moving. Similarly for an unenlightened person mind is real. But for an awakened person mind is completely nonexistent.
A person moving on a merry go - round feels that a stable hill is moving. Similarly, mind exists as long as stupid ignorance and delusion persist. Once they disappear, mind ceases to shine.
Thus, mind is definitely not existent. Only Brahman exists. Mind exists because of apprehending of material objects. This untruth has been cast away by me.
I am now free of all doubts. I am abiding free of fever. I am free of all desires.
Because of absence of mind, desire and such childish instincts and qualities have declined. I am perceiving the Perfect and the Supreme. My knowledge is free of all colours.
-11 Mind is dead. Desires have fled. Delusion has declined. I have grown free of ego. I have now awakened into enlightenment. There is no multiplicity. There is only the one. Why should I worry about anything else? What use is such a worry to me? I have attained that supreme state which is eternal and has no reflections. I am that Self which is equal, all pervading, subtle and eternal. I am abiding in That.
-14 . Whether there is mind in me or not is of no concern to me now. Self is equal eternally. All this time I have not inquired into my Self and so remained ignorant. I now know that I am that Infinite. What meaning does 'I have' for me?
-16 . When mind is dead, why am I engaging in these deforming inquiries? Why am I trying to rejuvenate the demon of mind? I am now casting off all mental fabrications and apprehensions. I shall abide peacefully in my Self like a person observing silence.
-19 . O Rama, knowers of truth should relentlessly use their intelligence to inquire into truth, whether sitting, sleeping, eating, or moving. Great souls engage themselves in works suitable to their nature (and dharma) after knowing truth and abiding in the Self. With the arrogance of mind gone, delighting in their attained state, men of attainment engage themselves in their natural duties.
