Self Alone Is The World

Sage Vasishtha

Ignorant people misconstrue the movement of life-force to be the mind: but in fact it is nothing more than the prana or life-force. But, in the case of those whose intelligence is not fragmented or conditioned by thoughts, it is surely the radiance of the supreme being or self. The intelligence that identifies itself with certain movements of life-force in the self (by entertaining notions of 'this am I', 'this is mine') is known as the jiva or the living soul. Intelligence, mind, jiva etc. are names which are used even by wise men: such entities are not real, however, from the absolute point of view. In truth, there is no mind, no intelligence, no embodied being: the self alone exists at all times. The self alone is the world; the self alone is time and also the evolutionary process. Because it is extremely subtle it seems not to exist, though it exists. While appearing to be a reflection or appearance, it is also realized to be the truth: but the self is beyond all these descriptions and its truth can only be experienced directly in self-knowledge.

When the inner light begins to shine, the mind ceases to be - even as when there is light, darkness vanishes. On the other hand, when consciousness is objectified in an effort to experience the objects of the senses, the self is forgotten, as it were, and there arise thoughts concerning the creatures of the mind.