Resort to Spiritual Heroism

Sage Vasishtha

Very many such liberated beings exist in the universe, O Rama. I shall give you a few instances. Janaka, the emperor, your own ancestor Dilipa, the first ruler of the world, Manu, emperor Mandhata who engaged himself in wars, the demon-kings Bali, Namuci, Vrta, Prahalada and Sambara, the preceptors of the gods and demons, as also the trinity, sages like Vishwamitra and Narada, as well as the deities presiding over natural elements like fire and air.

There are thousands of others, O Rama, who exist in the universe and who are liberated. Some of them are sages, others are kings, others shine as stars and planets, others are divinities and others are demons. O Rama, there are liberated beings even among worms and insects; and there are stupid fools among gods. The self is in all; it exists as the all everywhere at all times and in all ways. The self alone is the Lord and all the divinities. There is void in substances and substantiality in the void or space. What is inappropriate appears to be appropriate on enquiry. People are righteous because they are afraid of the consequences of sin. Even what is not leads to what is! the contemplation of the space or void leads to the attainment of the supreme truth! What is no comes into being, guided by time and space. On the other hand, what appears to be strong and powerful reaches its own destruction. Thus perceiving the truth, O Rama, abandon joy and sorrow, grief and attachment. The unreal appears to be real and the real appears to be unreal; hence give up hope and hopelessness and attain equanimity.

In this world, O Rama, liberation is at hand at all times everywhere. By their own self-effort millions of beings have attained liberation. Liberation is either easy or difficult depending upon one's wisdom or unwisdom; hence,  O Rama, kindle the lamp of wisdom in yourself. By the vision of the self is sorrow beheaded.

There have been countless beings in this world who have attained self-knowledge and liberation while yet living; like the emperor Janaka. Therefore, do thou become liberated here and now. The attainment of inner peace by utter non-attachment to anything here is known as liberation; this is possible whether the body exists or not. He who is freed from all attachments is liberated. One should wisely and intelligently exert oneself to attain this liberation; one who does not exert cannot even jump over the footprint of a calf. Hence,  ORAma, resort to spiritual heroism, to right exertion and by the right self-enquiry strive to reach the perfection of self-knowledge. For one who thus strives, the entire universe is like the footprint of a calf.