Bali's Reflections

Sage Vasishtha

Continued from here

After Shukra left, BALI reflected thus:

What my preceptor said to me was indeed correct and appropriate. Surely, all that is is consciousness and there is naught else. It is when that infinite consciousness entertains the concept 'this is sun' that the sun is distinguished from darkness: it is consciousness that distinguishes light from darkness. It is consciousness that cognizes earth as earth, the directions in space as such directions and the whole world as the world. If consciousness did not recognize a mountain, would it exist as a mountain?

Consciousness itself is all this: including the senses, the body, the desires that arise in the mind, whatever is within and whatever is outside, space and even changing phenomena. It is indeed on account of that consciousness that I am able to come into contact the objects and experience them, not because of the body itself. Regardless of the body, I am consciousness, which is the self of the entire universe.

Since consciousness exists one without a second, who is my friend and who is my enemy? Even if the head of the body known as Bali is cut off, does the infinite consciousness lose its head? Even hate and other such qualities are but modifications of consciousness. Hence, again, there is neither hate nor attachment, neither mind nor its modifications - since the consciousness is infinite and absolutely pure, how can perversions arise in it? Consciousness is not its name, it is but a word! It has no name.

I am the eternal subject free from all object and predicate. I salute that omnipresent consciousness which is free from the tempting concept of objects, and hence eternally free. I salute myself which is the consciousness free of the subject-object division, which acts appropriately without division and which is the light which is reflected in all appearances. I am that consciousness in which the craving for experience has ceased. I am limitless like space; I am untouched by happiness, unhappiness and the like. Let them therefore do what they like to me, for I am non-different from them. Movement of energy in one substance is neither loss nor gain. When consciousness alone is everything, thoughts or its expansions do not make that consciousness expand or contract. Hence, I shall continue to be active till I reach absolute quiescence in the Self.