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
46. It is ignorance (of true knowledge), that mistakes the mind for the
cause of creation, and recognizes it under its various denominations;
such as of jíva (zeus) or the living soul, the internal organ, the
mind, the thinking principle and the thought (as they are stated in the
Utpatti prakarana of this work).
47. Ráma said:—Tell me sir, why are so many different appellations,
heaped upon the only one thing of the mind, and deliver me from the
confusion, which is caused by them in my mind.
48. Vasishtha answered:—All these are but the various modes of
the single substance of the soul, whose intellect displays these
modalities; as the same substance of water, displays itself into the
variety of its waves.
49. The soul is a fluctuating principle, which inheres in all its
modifications; as the fluidity of water, is inherent in the undulatory
waves of the sea.
50. The supreme soul is sometimes without its vibration, and remains
stationary in all immovable things; as the water which presents its
fluidity in the loose billows, shows also its inelasticity in the
liquids which are at rest (as in water pots and bottles).
51. Hence the stones and other immovable substances, remain at rest
with their inherent spirit; but men and all animated nature, are as the
foaming froths of the distilled liquor of the universal soul.
52. The almighty power resides in all bodies, with the inertia of his
spirit; which is known as the insensibility, dullness or ignorance of
inert bodies.
53. The infinite soul being involved in that ignorance, takes the name
of the living or animal soul; which is confined as an elephant, in the
prison house of the delusion of this world.
54. It is called _jíva_ or living from its animation, and also as the
_ego_ from its egoism; it is termed the understanding from its power
of discernment, and as the mind from its will or volition.
55. It is called dull nature from its natural dullness, and also as
body from its being embodied with many elementary principles; it is
inert in its natural state, and sensible also from the essence of the
soul imbrued in it.
56. The spiritual substance which lies between the inert and
active principles, is called the mind; and it passes under various
designations, according to its different faculties and functions.
57. This is the quiddity of the animating soul _jíva_, as given in
the Brihadáranyaka and other upanishads; and there are many other
definitions of it to be found, in the other works of Vedánta.
58. But the unvedántic paralogists, have invented many other words over
and above these, to designate the animal soul; and have thereby misled
the ignorant to false beliefs, tending to their bewilderment only.
59. Know thus, O long armed Ráma! this animating soul to be the cause
of creation, and not the dull and dumb body, which has not the power of
moving itself, without being moved by some spiritual force.
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