Tripura Rahasya

Sage Dattatreya

This untainted Supreme Intelligence is one without a second and filled with Bliss, because it is totally free from the least trace of unhappiness. The sum total of all happiness of all the living beings has taken shape as the Supreme One because She is obviously desired by all; and She is no other than the Self, which consists of pure Bliss, because the Self is the most beloved of every being. For the sake of the Self people discipline their bodies and subdue their desires; all sensual pleasures are mere sparks of Bliss inherent in the Self.

(Note: Spiritual men are known to lead abstemious lives, to deny ordinary comforts to their bodies and even to torture them, in order that they may secure a happy existence after death. Their actions clearly prove their love of the Self surviving the body, this life, etc. Their hope of future bliss further establishes the unique beatific nature of the Self, surpassing sensual pleasures which might be indulged in here and now.)

For sensual pleasures are similar to a sense of relief felt on unburdening oneself of a crushing load, or to the peace of sleep. Pure Intelligence is indeed Bliss because it is the only one sought for. People do not recognize the Bliss inhering as their Self, because of their ignorance. They always associate pleasure with incidents. Furthermore, just as images in a mirror are associated with objects, ignoring the presence of the reflecting surface, but after consideration are found to be dependent on the mirror and not apart from it, and the mirror is found to be untainted by the reflected images, so also the Sages know the Self alone to be unique, real and untainted by its own projections, namely the world etc.