Sage Dattatreya said,
Being confronted thus, Mahasena began to think over the matter, and unable to solve the problem he asked leave to consider it carefully. Then he returned and said with all humility: 'Lord, I do not see who I am. I have considered the matter and still I do not understand. My grief is only natural; I cannot account for it. Master, I seek your protection. Kindly tell me what it is. Everyone is overpowered by grief when his relative dies. No one seems to know his own self; nor does one mourn all losses. I submit to you as your disciple. Please elucidate this matter to me.'
Being thus requested, the sage's son spoke to Mahasena.
'King, Listen! People are deluded by the illusion cast by Her Divine Majesty. They partake of misery that is due to the ignorance of their selves. Their misery is meaningless. As long as the ignorance of the self lasts, so long will there be misery. Just as a dreamer is foolishly alarmed at his own dreams or as a fool is deluded by the serpents created in a magic performance, so also the man ignorant of the Self is terrified.
Just as the dreamer awakened from his fearful dream or the man attending the magic performance informed of the unreal nature of the magic creations, no longer fears them but ridicules another who does, so also one aware of the Self not only does not grieve but also laughs at another's grief. Therefore, O valiant hero, batter down this impregnable fortress of illusion and conquer your misery by realization of the Self. In the meantime be discriminating and not so foolish.'
No comments:
Post a Comment