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
45. After dispersion of this darkness, he saw a beautiful collection of
light, shining upon him like the morning twilight, and alighting upon
his lotus bed, after dispersion of the shade of night. (This was his
_sáttwikabháva_ or state of purity).
46. But this clear light of his soul, was soon after removed by the
_raja_ or worldliness of his mind; which devoured it as the young
elephant feeds upon the red lotuses of the land (_sthala padma_), and
as _Vetála_ goblins lick up the drops of blood.
47. After the loss of this heavenly light, his mind turned flighty from
the giddiness of his passions (or _tama guna_); and he became as drowsy
as the sleeping lotuses at night, and as tipsy as a drunken sot over
his cups.
48. But his reason soon returned to him, and made him shake off his
sleepiness, as the winds disperse the clouds, and as the snake inhales
the air; and as the elephant devours the lotus bush, and the sunlight
dispels the darkness of night.
49. After removal of his drowsiness, his mind beheld the broad expanse
of the blue firmament, filled with fancied forms of animals, and
flights of peacocks and other birds.
50. When, as the rain water washes off the blackness of tamála leaves,
and as a gust of wind drives away the morning mist, and as the light of
a lamp disperses the darkness; so returned to him, his spiritual light,
and removed the blue vacuum, of his mind, by filling it with its benign
radiance.
51. The idea of an empty vacuity (vacuum), being replaced by that of
his self consciousness, his idea of the mind was also absorbed in it;
as the drunken frenzy of a man is drowned in his sleep.
52. His great soul, then rubbed out the impressions of error from his
vitiated mind; as the luminous sun drives from the world, the shades of
darkness which had overspread it at night.
53. In this manner his misty mind, being freed from its shades of light
and darkness, and from the dross of its drowziness and error; obtained
its rest in that state of _samádhi_ or trance, which no language can
describe.
54. In this state of calm and quiet repose, his limbs dropped down
as in the drowziness of sleep; and their powers were absorbed in the
channel of his self consciousness, as a flood recoils to its basin,
when it is bound by an embankment.
55. It was then by means of his constant inquiry, that he advanced to
the state of his intellectuality, from that of his consciousness of
himself; as the gold that is moulded to the form of a jewel, is reduced
afterwards to the pure metal only.
56. Then leaving his intellectuality, he thought himself as the
intellect of his intellect; and then became of another form and figure,
as when the clay is converted to a pot.
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