Non-Attachment, a Vital Factor

Sage Vasishtha

VALMIKI said:

The sage Vasishtha had concluded the teaching contained in the upasama prakaranam and he uttered the words, "O Rama, you have heard the upasama prakaranam; now hear this section dealing with liberation." All the kings and the sages who were seated in the court were deeply absorbed in the great Vasishtha discourse; with their attention totally riveted on his words and gestures they appeared more like figures in a painting than actual human beings. In fact, it seemed that even the sun, the air, the birds and the beasts - the entire nature was absorbed in intently listening to the sage's discourse with their souls absorbed in the sublime  exposition in the nature of the innermost self.

As the sun was about to set, the palace suddenly resounded with drums and trumpets. For a few moments this sound drowned the voice of sage Vasishtha. When the sound of the drums, trumpets, conches died down the Sage asked Rama the following question.

VASISHTHA said:

I have thus provided you with a net woven with words which are indicative of the highest truth: tie down the bird of your mind with this net and let the mind then rest in your heart. Thus shall you attain Self-knowledge. O Rama, have you absorbed this truth imparted by me, although it is mixed with varied expressions and illustrations, even as the proverbial swan is able to separate milk from water when these are mixed together and to drink the milk alone? 

You should contemplate this truth again and again, from beginning to end, reflect upon it and you should march along this path now, O noble one. Though engaged in diverse activities, you will not be bound if your intelligence is saturated with this truth; otherwise you will fall, even as an elephant falls from the cliff. Again, if you conceptualize this teaching for your intellectual entertainment and do not let it act in your life, you will stumble and fall like a blind man.

In order to reach this state of perfection or liberation taught by me you should live a life of non-attachment, doing what is appropriate in every situation as it reaches you. Rest assured that this is the vital factor in the teachings of all scriptures. 

Given leave to depart, all the kings and the sages of the assembly left for their abode. They contemplated Vasishtha's teaching and discussed it among themselves, spending only a couple of hours in pleasant and deep sleep.