Thus Spake Sri Rama

The sayings in this section have been collected from various sources like the Valmiki Ramayana, Adhyatma Ramayana and the Yoga Vasishtha Ramayana. 

• The ghost of a mind is absolutely devoid of existence. It assumes a shape only through vain imagination. Again its non-existence is realized by discrimination. To control this ghost is extremely difficult.
• The mind burns one more than fire, and it is harder than vajra. It runs after an object of sense like the crow after meat, and the next moment it gives up like a child. It cannot stick to anything whatsoever.
• The mind, like an eddying sea, carries man afar. To check the mind is more difficult than desiccating the ocean, uprooting the mountain or eating fire.
• This body is composed of the five gross elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether), the five tanmantras or rudimentary elements (sound, touch, form, taste and smell), intelligence, five organs of knowledge and five organs of action.
• The leaf that is this body takes no time in yellowing and dropping down on the ground. This body has its origin in false knowledge. So it is full of delusions like a dream. The transitoriness of this body is obvious.