The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki, Vol. 2 (of 4), Part 1 (of 2)Valmiki
Religion
The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki, Vol. 2 (of 4), Part 1 (of 2)
Valmiki
Hinduism -- Doctrines -- Early works to 1800; Religious life -- Hinduism -- Early works to 1800
6. The mind is a spacious mind (of richest gems) in this extensive
creation, and depends for its support on the supreme soul; as the waves
are dependent on the waters of the sea, for their rise and subsistence.
(The mind is the individual soul, but the soul is the universal and
undivided spirit and opposed to the European doctrine of the minds being
a generic and the soul an individual name).
7. Therefore give up, O Ráma! your erroneous view of the reality of the
world and your reliance on the baseless fabric of the universe, and rely
with delight on your judicious view of the true substratum and support
of all.
8. Inquire now into the nature of Truth, with a rational understanding;
and being freed from all error and bias, discard all that is false and
untrue.
The idea of Tritheism and faith in the mystic number three, is as deeply
rooted in the Hindu mind, as we find it in the Alexandrine triad of old,
and the Trinity of modern Christians. We have already given an ample
exposition of the various triads in Hindu theology and other sciences in
our introduction to this work (Vol. I. Sect XI. p. 61). Besides those we
meet herewith some other triads which are conveyed in the allegorical
story of the old nurse to her infant care for his early instruction,
though it is doubtful that the boy could either understand or derive any
benefit thereby. It will be worth while to mention here the Alexandrian
Triad of the three hypostases of the one Being in the _psyche_—eternal
soul, _nous_—the mind, and _Zoa_—Jíva—life or activity. This last is the
same with the _logos_—Word, the manifestation of Divine power in whom
there was life also. Others formed their Triad of matter, soul and
force, as the three _principia_ in nature. The Christian Trinity, which
some maintain as an imitation of the Alexandrians, presents many
differences respecting some portion of this doctrine, which resulted in
the heresies of Arianism, Sabellianism, Nestorianism &c. see further
particulars on this head in Lewe’s History of Philosophy, Vol. 1, p.
391.
9. Why do you think the unconfined soul to be confined in the body? It
is vain to suppose the nature of the infinite soul, to be confined in
any place.
10. To suppose the one as many, is to make a division of and create a
variety in the nature of the Supreme Spirit. Again the Divine essence
being diffused alike in all, it cannot be said to be confined in one
thing and absent in another.
11. The body being hurt, the soul is supposed to be hurt likewise; but
no pain or hurt or sickness of any kind, can appertain to the unchanging
soul.
12. The body being hurt or weakened or destroyed, there is no injury
done to the soul, as the bellows (of the blacksmith) being burnt, the
wind with which it was filled, escapes unconsumed.
13. Whether the body lasts or falls, it is of no matter to us, (since
the soul survives its loss); as the flower being destroyed, deposits its
fragrance in the air.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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