Make The Mind Unconditioned

Sage Vasishtha

O RAma, living like this, constantly enquiring into the nature of the self, attain peace. This state of consciousness can be attained by the cultivation of dispassion, the study of scriptures, the instructions of a guru and by the persistent practice of enquiry. But, if the awakened intelligence is keep and sharp, you will attain it even without the other aids.

Rama asked: 

Holy sir, some there are who rest in self-knowledge, who are enlightened and yet engage themselves in activities; and there are others who isolate themselves and practice contemplation. Of these, who is the better?

Vasishtha replied:

Rama, that is samadhi in which one realizes the objects of the senses as not-Self, and thus one enjoys inner calmness and tranquility at all times. Having realized that the objects are related only to the mind and therefore constantly resting in inner peace, some are engaged in activity while others live in isolation. Both enjoy the bliss of contemplation. If the mind of one who appears to be in samadhi is distracted, he is a mad man: on the other hand, if the mind of one who appears to be a mad man is free from all notions and distraction, he is enlightened and he is in unbroken samadhi. Whether he is engaged in activity or he lives in isolation in forest, in enlightenment there is no distinction. The mind which is free from conditioning is not tainted even while it is engaged in activity. The non-action of the mind is known as quiescence (samadhana); it is total freedom, it is blessedness.

The difference between contemplation and its absence is indicated by whether or not there is movement of thought in the mind: hence make the mind unconditioned. The unconditioned mind is firm, and that in itself is meditation, freedom and peace eternal. The conditioned mind is the source of sorrow; and the unconditioned mind is a non-actor and attains to the supreme state of enlightenment. Hence one should work to remove all mental conditioning. That is known as contemplation or samadhi in which all the desires and hopes concerning the world have ceased and which is free from sorrow, fear and desire, and by which the self rests in itself.

Mentally renounce all false identification of the self with objects here: and then live where you like, either at home or in a mountain cave. To that householder whose mind has attained utter quiescence his house itself is the forest. If the mind is at peace and if there is no ego-sense, even cities are as void. On the other hand, forests are like cities to him, whose heart is full of desires and other evils. The distractions of the mind subside in deep sleep; enlightenment attains enlightenment - do as you please.