Requirement of Self-Realization: Purity of Mind

Sage Dattatreya

King Janaka said:

There can indeed be no moment or spot from which consciousness is absent. Its absence means their absence also. Therefore consciousness of the Self becomes manifest by mere diversion of attention from things or thoughts. Realization of Self requires absolute purity only and no concentration of mind. For this reason, the Self is said to be unknowable (meaning not objectively knowable). Therefore it was also said that the sole necessity for Self-realization is purity of mind. The only impurity of the mind is thought. To make it thought-free is to keep it pure. It must now be clear to you why purity of mind is insisted upon for Realization of Self. How can the Self be realized in its absence?

Or, how is it possible for the Self not to be found gleaming in the pure mind? All the injunctions in the scriptures are directed towards this end alone. For instance, unselfish action, devotion and dispassion have no other purpose in view. Because transcendental consciousness, the Self, is manifest only in the stain-free mind.