The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki, Vol. 3 (of 4), Part 1 (of 2)Valmiki
Religion
The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki, Vol. 3 (of 4), Part 1 (of 2)
Valmiki
Hinduism -- Doctrines -- Early works to 1800; Religious life -- Hinduism -- Early works to 1800
43. Hear now, Ráma, the reason why the body of the Yogi, is not subject
to the accidents of disjunction or corruption for many hundreds of
years (under the influence of heat and cold and other casualties).
44. Whenever the mind is occupied with the thought of any thing, it is
immediately assimilated into the nature of that object, and assumes the
same form on itself.
45. Thus upon seeing or thinking of an enemy, the mind turns to enmity,
at the very sight or thought of its foe; as it assumes the nature of
friendliness, on the visit and remembrance of a friend.
46. So on seeing a hill or tree or passenger, that bears no enmity or
friendship to it, the mind remains equally indifferent towards the
same, and without any change in its disposition as it is perceived by
us.
47. Again the mind is sweetened (pleased) on relishing the sweets, and
embittered by tasting the bitter. It becomes fond of the sweet, and
averse to whatever is sour and bitter and unpalatable.
48. So when a ravenous beast comes in the sight of a dispassionate
Yogi, its envious nature is changed to dispassionateness, and it
desists from doing him any injury. (So says Patanjali, “Good company
turns the wicked to goodness”).
49. The malicious being freed from his malice, in the company of the
even minded stoic, desists from the doing of any harm, to any one;
as the indifferent wayfarer has no business to break the straggling
branches and trees growing on the way side, which the rude rustics are
apt to lop off and cut down (for the making of their fuel).
50. But the savage beast being removed from the side of the Yogi,
resumes its ravenous nature again, in the company of the rapacious and
wild beasts of the forest.
51. Hence it was that the envious beasts of the forest, the tigers,
lions and bears; as also the reptiles and creeping insects of earth,
did not molest the sedate body of the sage, so long as they lurked and
crept about it.
52. The reason why the body was not reduced to the dust of the earth
is, because the silent conscience that there dwells in common, in all
existent bodies of animals, vegetables and minerals, and abides in them
as in the person of a dumb creature; would not allow them to injure the
innocent body of the sage lying flat on the ground.
53. The spiritualised body of the Yogi, is seen to move about on
earth, like the shadow of something floating on the water.
54. Therefore the spiritual body of the sage, which was rarefied above
the elemental bodies by virtue of his spiritual knowledge, became quite
incorruptible in its nature.
55. Hear me tell you another reason, Ráma! that it is the want of
oscillation which is the cause of destruction, as it is the vibration
or breathing of the heart which is the cause of life.
56. It is the breathing of vital breaths, which causes the vibration of
the arteries, and this being stopped, the body becomes as still as a
stone.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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