Mysticism -- Hinduism; Religion; Sanskrit literature -- Translations into English
When the five organs of perception become still, together with
the mind, and the intellect ceases to be active: that is called
the highest state.
The teacher now shows Nachiketas the process by which the transcendental
vision can be attained. he out-going senses,--seeing, hearing, smelling,
touching, tasting; the restless mind and the intellect: all must be indrawn
and quieted. The state of equilibrium thus attained is called the highest
state, because all the forces of one's being become united and focused; and
this inevitably leads to supersensuous vision.
XI
This firm holding back of the senses is what is known as Yoga.
Then one should become watchful, for Yoga comes and goes.
Yoga literally means to join or to unite the lower self with the Higher Self,
the object with the subject, the worshipper with God. In order to gain this
union, however, one must first disunite oneself from all that scatters the
physical, mental and intellectual forces; so the outgoing perceptions must be
detached from the external world and indrawn. When this is accomplished
through constant practice of concentration and meditation, the union takes
place of its own accord. But it may be lost again, unless one is watchful.
XII
He cannot be attained by speech, by mind, or by the eye. How can
That be realized except by him who says "He is"?
XIII
He should be realized as "He is" and also as the reality of both
(visible and invisible). He who knows Him as "He is," to him
alone His real nature is revealed.
This supersensuous vision cannot be gained through man's ordinary faculties.
By mind, eye, or speech the manifested attributes of the Divine can be
apprehended; but only one who has acquired the supersensuous sight can
directly perceive God's existence and declare definitely that "He is," that He
alone exists in both the visible and the invisible world.
XIV
When all desires dwelling in the heart cease, then the mortal
becomes immortal and attains Brahman here.
XV
When all the ties of the heart are cut asunder here, then the
mortal becomes immortal. Such is the teaching.
XVI
There are a hundred and one nerves of the heart. One of them
penetrates the centre of the head. Going upward through it, one
attains immortality. The other (hundred nerve-courses) lead, in
departing, to different worlds.
The nervous system of the body provides the channels through
which the mind travels; the direction in which it moves is
determined by its desires and tendencies. When the mind becomes
pure and desireless, it takes the upward course and at the time
of departing passes out through the imperceptible opening at the
crown of the head; but as long as it remains full of desires, its
course is downward towards the realms where those desires can be
satisfied.
XVII
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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