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
26. So a man doing his duty by habit or compulsion, is not sensible
of any pain or pleasure that he derives from it (because his mind was
quite unconcerned with the act).
27. An act done by the outer body without its intention in the inner
mind, is reckoned as no act of the actor, nor does it entail upon him
its good or bad result. (An involuntary act is not taken into account).
28. He neither shrinks from misery, nor does he hail his good fortune;
he is neither elated at his success, nor depressed by his failure.
29. He is not dismayed at seeing the sun growing cool, and the moon
shining warmly over his head; he is not disconcerted by the flame of
fire bending downwards, nor at the course of waters rising upwards. (He
is not terrified by the prodigies of nature).
30. He is not affrighted nor astonished, at any wonderful occurrence
in nature; because he knows all the phenomena of nature, to be the
wondrous appearances of the omnipotent and all-intelligent soul.
31. He expresses no need nor want of his, nor is in need of other’s
favour or kindness; nor has he recourse to wiliness or cunning; he
undertakes no shameful act as begging and the like, nor betrays his
shamelessness by doing an unworthy action.
32. He is never mean-spirited nor haughty in his spirit, he is neither
elated nor depressed in his mind, nor is he sad or sorry or joyous at
anytime. (The word _dínátmá_ is used for the meek in spirit in Dr.
Mill’s version of the “Sermon on the mount”).
33. No passions rise in his pure heart, which is as clear as the
autumnal sky; and as the clear firmament which gives no growth to
thorns or thistles.
34. Seeing the incessant births and deaths of living beings in the
course of this world, who is it whom you may call to be ever happy or
unhappy? (Since happiness and sorrow succeed one another by turns).
35. Froth as the foaming bubble bursts in the water, so our lives
flash to fly out into eternity; whom therefore do you call to be happy
anywhere, and what is that state of continued pleasure or pain?
36. In this world of endless entrances and exits, what being is there
that lasts or is lost for ever; it is our sight that produces the view,
as our failing sight takes it out of view (as every spectre of optical
delusion). (The text _drishti srishti kara narah_ is very expressive;
and means, “man is the maker of the world by his sight of it”).
37. The sights of these worlds are no more than the transitory view of
spectacles in our nightly dreams; which are unforeseen appearances of
momentary duration, and sudden disappearance.
38. What cause can there be of joy or sorrow in this wretched world,
which is a scene of incessant advents and departures?
39. It is the loss of some good, that is attended with sorrow to the
sufferer; but what sorrow can assail the self-liberated man, who sees
nothing as positive good in the ever-changing state of things herein?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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