The Story of Uddalaka

Sage Vasishtha

O Rama, do not take your stand on concepts and percepts of the mind, which are subtle and sharp; the mind has been put together by time and it has gained great strength in course of time. Bring it under control by wisdom, before time fells this creeper known as the body. By devoutly contemplating on my words you will attain supreme state. 

I shall narrate to you how the sage Uddalaka of yore attained the supreme vision of truth.

In a corner of the earth, there is a great mountain known as Gandhamadana. On one of its peaks there was a great tree. In that region there lived the sage Uddalaka. Even while he was a young boy he aspired to attain supreme wisdom through his own effort. Of course, then he was of little understanding and he had a restless mind, though he had a pure heart. He engage himself in austerity, in the study of scriptures and so on, and there arose wisdom in him. While sitting alone one day, the SAGE UDDALAKA reflected thus:

What is liberation, which is said to be the foremost among the objects to be attained, upon attaining which one does not experience sorrow and is not born again? When shall I rest permanently in that state? When will the mental agitations caused by desires and cravings cease?When will I be freed from thoughts like 'This I have done' and 'This I should do'? When will my mind cease to undergo percersities though living in relationship here, even as the lotus though lying on water is not tainted by it? When will I, with the help of the boat of supreme wisdom, cross to the other shore of liberation? When will I be able to looj upon the diverse activities of people with the playfulness of a child? When will the mind attain utter quiescence? When will the illusory division between the subjective and the objective experiences cease through the experience of the Infinite consciousness? When will I be able to behold this concept, known as time, without being involved in it? When will I, living in a cave, with a mind in utter tranquility, remain like a rock in a state in which there is no movement of thought at all?

Thus reflecting, Uddalaka continued his practice of meditation. But his mind continued to be agitate. Some days, however, his mind abandoned external objects and remained in a state of purity. At other times, it was greatly disturbed. Greatly distressed by such changing moods, he roamed the forest. One day he reached a lonely spot in the forest which had not been visited by anyone else. There he saw a cave which appeared to be most conducive to the attainment of the state of utter tranquility and peace. It was delightful in every way with beautiful creepers and flowers around it, with a moderate climate, and it shone as if it had been carved out of emerald.

(To be continued)