Annihilation Of Mind

Sri Tandavaraya Swami

Disciple:

How can the wise, liberated while alive, exhaust their prarabdha if their mind has lost itself in Brahman and become one with It? Is it not done only by experiencing its results? Such experience would certainly require the mind. There cannot be any kind of experience in the absence of the mind. If the mind persists, how can they be said to be liberated? I am confused on this point. Be pleased to clear this doubt of mind, for I cannot be liberated unless all doubts are cleared away.

Master: 

The annihilation of the mind is of two grades: namely, of the mind pattern and of the mind itself. The former applies to sages liberated while alive, the latter to disembodied sages. Elimination of rajas and tamas, leaving sattva alone, is the dissolution of the pattern of the mind. O sinless one! when sattva vanishes along with the subtle body, the mind itself is said to have perished too.

Sattva is pure and forms the very nature of the mind; when rajas and tamas (which give the pattern to it) are destroyed (by proper practice), the identity of the term mind is lost. For, in such a state, the sages will partake of what comes unsolicited; not think of the past or future; nor exult in joy or lament in sorrow; getting over their doer-ship, becoming non-doers; witnessing the mental modes and the three states they can remain liberated while they pass through prarabdha. There is no contradiction in it. You need have no doubts on this point.

On hearing that the whole period of activity is also the state of peace, you may object saying, "Does not action denote changing mind, and on such change does not peace slip away?"

The state of the sage is like that of a girl who never ceases to thrill with love for her paramour, even while she attends to her duties at home.