"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

Monday, May 26, 2014

Bali's Super Conscious State

Sage Vasishtha

Having thus reflected, Bali, uttering the sacred word OM and contemplating its subtle significance, remained quiet. Freed from all doubts, from perception of objects and without the division between thinker, thought and thinking (meditation, meditator and the object of meditation), with all intentions and concepts quietened, Bali remained firmly established in the supreme state with a mind in which all movement of thought had ceased, like a lamp in a windless place. Thus he lived for a considerable time.

All the demons rushed to the place and surrounded the king who was seated in deep contemplation. Unable to understand the mystery, they thought of their preceptor, Shukra. They beheld Shukra in front of them. Shukra saw that Bali was in a super-conscious state. He said to the demons, with a smile radiating joy:

"It is indeed wonderful, O demons, that this king Bali has attained such perfection by dint of his own resolute enquiry. Let him remain established in his own self. The mental activity that gives rise to the perception of the world has ceased in him: hence do not try to talk to him. When the dark night of ignorance comes to an end, the sun of self-knowledge arises: such is his state now. In course of time he himself will come out of that state, when the seed of world-perception begins to sprout in his consciousness. Hence, go about doing your work as before: he will return to world-consciousness in a thousand years from now."

Hearing this, the demons returned to their posts of duty and carried on the work of the realm. After a thousand celestial years of such contemplation, the king Bali was awakened by the music of the celestials and divinities. A supernatural light that radiated from him illumined the entire city.
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The flame of a lamp sheltered from wind does not flicker. This is the comparison used to describe a Yogi's mind that is well under control and united with the Atman. - Bhagavad Gita

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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