29. Vasishtha replied:—But the sullied mind cannot easily unite with the object of its thought, as a dirty and cold piece of iron, cannot join with a pure red-hot one, unless it is heated and purified from its dross. 30. The pure mind and its pure thoughts, are readily united with one another, as the pure waters mix together into one body of the same kind, which the muddied water cannot do. 31. Want of desire constitutes the purity of the mind, which is readily united with immaterial things of the same nature like itself. The purity of the mind conduces to its enlightenment, and these being united in one, leads it to the Supreme. CHAPTER XVIII. THE INCARNATION OF THE LIVING SPIRIT Argument. The Impure state of the soul; and its Purity leading to the knowledge of the only One. Vasishtha continued:—The living souls (Jivátman), residing in the seeds of material bodies (bhúta-víja) in all parts of the world, differ from one another; and there according to the difference in their knowledge of themselves (_tanmátra_), or self identity with the _Unity_. 2. As long as there is no volition nor nolition, connected with the identity of the living soul; so long it reposes in a state of rest, not unlike that of sound sleep (susupti). 3. But living souls addicted to their wishes, view their identity with the same; and find themselves born in their desired shapes here below. 4. The _tanmátras_ of the living soul and its proclivities, run in one channel to the reservoir of life, and are thickened into one living being by their mutual coalition. 5. Some of them are situated apart from one another, and are dissolved also separately; and some are joined together, and are born as two _gunja_ fruits growing together. 6. The world consisting of thousands of orbs like _gunja_ fruits, contains the assemblage of atoms on atoms; and these unconnected with one another, form the great garden of God. 7. These being joined also with one another, became dense and thick; and remain in the same place, where it has grown. 8. The different states of the mind, ensuing upon the absence of its present objects under its province, brings on a change in its constitution, which is called its regeneration (in a new life). (Thus the change of the mind under the change of circumstances, is reckoned its transformation to a different being). 9. Thus every regeneration of the mind in a new life, is accompanied with its concomitant desires, and their results. The new life is attended with its proper body, unless the mind has lost its reminiscence. 10. As the pure Spirit taking the form of the vital breath, performs the functions of the body; so the mind being reborn in a new body, is employed in all the functions of the same body. 11. The souls of all living beings are subject to the three states of waking, dreaming, and sound sleep, which are caused by the mind and not by the body.