"The very first step in understanding what this is all about is giving up the concept of an active, volitional 'I' as a separate entity and accepting the passive role of perceiving and functioning as a process." - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Rest in what remains

Sage Vasishtha:

O Rama, there is no bondage here other than craving for acquisition and the anxiety to avoid what one considers undesirable. Do not succumb to such anxiety and do not let acquisition of what is considered desirable be your goal; giving up both these attitudes, rest in what remains.

They in whom the twin-urges of acquistion and rejection have come to an end do not desire anything nor do they renounce anything. The mind does not reach the state of utter tranquility till these two impulses have been eliminated. Even so, as long as one feels 'this is real' and 'this is unreal' the mind does not experience peace and equilibrium. How can equanimity, purity and dispassion arise in the mind of one who is swayed by thoughts of 'this is right', 'this is wrong', 'this is gain', 'this is loss'? When there is only one Brahman what can be said to be right and what wrong? As long as the mind is swayed by thoughts of the desirable and the undesirable there cannot be equanimity.

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सर्वभूताधिवासं यद्भूतेषु च वसत्यपि।
सर्वानुग्राहकत्वेन तद्स्म्यहं वासुदेवः॥

That in whom reside all beings and who resides in all beings,
who is the giver of grace to all, the Supreme Soul of the universe, the limitless being:
I AM THAT. -- Amritabindu Upanishad