Knowledge of Truth Dispels Sorrow

Sage Vasishtha

If one has achieved even a little bit of control over the mind by self-enquiry, such a person has attained the fruit of his life. For this self-enquiry will expand in his heart. When such enquiry is preceded by dispassion and has attained stability by practice, all the noble qualities resort to it naturally. Ignorance and its retinue do not bother one who is fully established in self-enquiry and who sees what is, without distortion. When he has found his foothold in the spiritual ground, he is not overcome by the robbers known as sense-pleasures.

But, sense-pleasures do overcome one who is not so established. He who is not constantly engaged in self-enquiry and is not thus constantly conscious of the self, he alone is considered a dead man. Hence, O Rama, carry on this enquiry constantly. This enquiry reveals the truth by dispelling the darkness of ignorance. Knowledge of the truth in its turn drives away all sorrow. Along with knowledge arises the experience of it. But when the inner light, kindled by a proper study of the scriptures and enquiry into their truth, illumines both knowledge and experience of it, their total identity is realized. This inner light itself is regarded as self-knowledge by the holy ones: and the experience of it is an integral part of self-knowledge and non-different from it. He who has self-knowledge is for ever immersed in the experience of it. He is liberated while living and lives like an emperor of the world.

Such a sage is not distracted by the diverse experiences he may apparently be subject to, whether they are regarded by others as pleasant or unpleasant. He is not bound or overcome by pleasure nor is there a craving for pleasure in him. He is completely satisfied in his own self. He is not attached to anything or anybody; and he has no enmity or hatred in his heart. Nor is he frightened by the roar of an enemy or the roar of a lion in the forest. He does not rejoice when he visits a garden nor is he distressed if he happens to travel in a desert. Inwardly ever free, yet he engages in doing constantly whatever actions may be appropriate for the moment. His attitude towards both a murderer and a philanthropist is the same. In his cosmic vision all things great and small appear to be the same, for he knows that the entire universe is nothing but pure consciousness.

He who acts without attachment, merely with the organs of action, is not affected by anything, neither by joy nor by sorrow. His actions are non-volitional. He sees not, though eyes see; he hears not, though ears hear; he touches not, though the body touches. Surely, attachment is the cause for this world-illusion; it alone creates objects. Attachment causes bondage and endless sorrow. Therefore, holy ones declare that the abandonment of attachment is itself liberation. Abandon attachment, O Rama, and be a liberated sage.