Burning the Seeds of Distraction

Sage Vasishtha

RAMA asked:

Holy sir, kindly tell me, how may one quickly destroy all these seeds of distraction and reach the supreme state?

VASISHTHA said:

These seeds of sorrow, O Rama, can be destroyed, each by the destruction of the previous one. But, if you can at one stroke cut off all mental conditioning and by great self-effort rest in the state of pure existence (if you rest in that state even for a second) in no time you will be established in it. If however you wish merely to find your foothold in pure existence, you can achieve it, by even greater effort. Similarly, by contemplating the infinite consciousness, too, you can  rest in the supreme state: but that demands greater effort.

Meditation is not possible on objects of experience: for they exist only in consciousness or the self. But if you strive to destroy the conditioning then in a moment all your errors and illnesses will vanish. However, this is more difficult than the ones described earlier. For, until the mind is free from the movement of thought, cessation of conditioning is difficult, and vice versa; and unless the truth is realized, the mind does not cease to function, and vice versa. Yet, again, until the conditioning ceases, the unconditioned truth is not realized, and vice versa. Since realization of truth, cessation of the mind and ending of conditioning are interwoven, it is extremely difficult to deal with them individually and separately.

Hence, O Rama, by every means in your power, renounce the pursuit of pleasure and resort to all the three simultaneously. If all these are simultaneously practised for a considerable time, then they become fruitful, not otherwise. O Rama, this world-appearance has been experienced as truth for a very long time: and it needs persistent practice of all these three simultaneously to overcome it.

Wise ones declare that the abandonment of conditioning and the restraint of prana are of equal effect: hence, one should practise them simultaneously. Prana is restrained by the practice of pranayama and the yoga asana, as taught by the guru, or by other means. When desires, aversions and cravings do not arise in the mind even though their objects are seen in front, then it is to be inferred that mental conditioning has weakened; thence wisdom arises, further weakening the conditioning. Then the mind ceases.

It is not possible to kill the mind without proper methods. Knowledge of the Self, company of holy men, the abandonment of conditioning and the restraint of prana - these are the means to overcome the mind. Ignoring these and resorting to violent practices like Hatha Yoga, austerities, pilgrimage, rites and rituals are a waste of time. Self-knowledge alone bestows delight on you. A man of self-knowledge alone lives. Hence, gain self-knowledge, O Rama.