Sri Vasista
O Rama, as one who in possession of his Self and with all thinking completely subsided, he started slowly uttering 'Om' and attaining the various 'bhumikas' (stages) in sequence.
-7 The sage uttered 'Om' with clearly partitioning it into its parts. While uttering in this way he attributed to each phase appropriately the forms of the pure, immutable Eternal. He started discarding the external and internal causes for the subtle and gross formations in the three worlds. He then abided in the Self which was like pure transparent crystal. He was like a Mandara maintain fully in a rest position. He was like a still potter's wheel. He was like the dust free clear sky in autumn. He cast off the fundamental elements composing the senses along with the long thread like sound of 'Om', like wind shedding the fragrance it was bearing.
-14 He then shed the element composing 'tamas' qualities. Then there was light. He shed that also in a trice. Then there was neither darkness nor light. Then he divested himself of the shred of mind still remaining. Then he shed the sentient consciousness still extant a little like the knowledge of an infant. This is the giving up of the objective state of consciousness. Then he attained the state of witness- perception (capability) and became pure existence. Then he entered the deep sleep state and remained still like a mountain. Abiding in that state, he achieved stability in that state. Later he gained the 'turya' state.
-17 . In that state he was without joy and yet he was with bliss. He had no existence yet he was existing in his Self. He had no form yet he was in his own form of Self. He was not transcendent and yet he was transcendent. He attained that indescribable state where it is said 'this is not, this is not'. He became that equal Brahman, the Vast.
-20 . He attained that Supreme State which is described severally by several philosophical streams. For advocates of 'Sunyavada', that state is 'void' state. For some it is Brahmic state. For Vijnana protagonists it is vijnana state. For sankhyas it is Purusha state. For yoga philosophers it is the state of Iswara. For 'jivanmuktas' it is all-form.
-23 . He was splendourously radiant in that all immanent, all-Self and enunciated by all seriptures and 'sastras'. That state was always inactive, self-luminous and illuminates all light giving objects like Sun etc. He was in that state of Alone but multiple depending on the support characteristies. Due to Maya it was full of attachment and was free of it as pure state.
Thus Vitahavya was in that supreme state which is free of all birth cycles and impurities. He was in the form of consciousness - ether. Even so in a trice he could become Iswara, the Lord.
