On the yoga of deliberation on the mind stuff

Sri Vasista

1. O Rama, when his mind vanished, compassion and friendliness (maitri) and such qualities came up in Vitahavya.

Sri Rama

2. -3 O sage, when Vitahavya's mind vanished, how can you say that some qualities like compassion sprouted in him? When mind merged in Brahman, to whom these qualities apply? How did they spring up? Please tell me, O best of orators.

Sri Vasista

4. -9 O Rama, there are two kinds of destruction of mind : with form and without form; with form is that of jivanmukta's; and without form is that of one liberated after life. In this world, the existence of mind causes grief. Destruction of mind yields happiness. So one has to destroy the existence of mind and achieve the vanishing of mind. Know that mind is spread with a net of vasanas. This is the cause of recurnence of births and consequently grief 'this load of qualities is mine' - so think many people. This kind of ignorant mind is called 'jiva', the being. As long as mind is existing, there is no question of decline of sorrow. When mind in people vanishes, then this mutable world also vanishes. Know that mind is at the root of all sorrow in the world.

Sri Rama

10. O sage, whose mind is damaged? How does the destruction occur? What is the form of that destruction?

Sri Vasista

11. -15 . O best of questioners, the light of Raghu dynasty, till now I have told you about the existence of mind. Now I shall tell you about its destruction. Listen, Just like breath, which can not stir a mountain, a wise man of steadfast nature will not be shaken by happinesses or sorrows. Then it is said that his mind has vanished. The mind of such a person is said to be destroyed, who is not mutilated by the thought 'I am this body, I am nothing other than That'. If a person is not convulsed by calamity, misery, excitement, arrogance, greatness, and ecstatic jubilation, then his mind is said to be destroyed. this is destruction of mind. Such a mind is called destroyed mind/injured mind. Such a state is called the 'jivanmukta' state.

16. -17 . O sinless one, when mind loses its stupidity, know that it is called destruction of mind. Then 'sattwa', the quality of goodness, harmony, happiness and light, arises. Some people call this emergence of 'sattwa' and its elegance the destruction of mind, which is the very nature of a 'jivanmukta', as 'chitta', the mind, (the general stuff of mental consciousness).

18. -22 . O sinless Rama, the mind of 'jivanmukta' will be endowed with qualities like compassion and friendliness. It will be full of excellent and highly virtuous vasanas. It will be free of any rebirth. Such mind of a 'jivanmukta' is called 'sattwa' (quality). This is experienced while in life and is unrelated to body. And so it is said to be with form. Such destruction of mind is seen in 'jivnmuktas'. These resultant qualities like friendliness are very delightful and shine like moon in a 'jivanmukta'. These are like sprouts in spring.

23. -29 . O Rama, one who is liberated after life (videhamukta) will display destruction of fromless mind. Even 'sattwa', which is the best of all qualities, will be dissolved in that most sacred 'videha mukti'. In this kind of mind destruction, there will not be any phenomenon. In the formless mind destruction, there will neither be quality nor qualitylessness, wealth or poverty, nor fickleness neither morning nor evening, neither happiness nor sorrow, neither light nor darkness, neither day nor night, neither sky nor quarters, neither calamity nor vasana, neither desire nor desirelessness, neither attachment nor existence nor non-existence, not even their conjunction. It is a kind of pure and clear autumn-sky state.

30. -31 . For great souls 'videhamukti' is the foundation and support like sky for air. These souls abide in that state of consciousness, delivered of all sorrows, with all qualities subsided, expansive and vast like sky, devoid of even a little of mind.