The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki, Vol 4 (of 4), Part 1 (of 2)Valmiki
Religion
The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki, Vol 4 (of 4), Part 1 (of 2)
Valmiki
Hinduism -- Doctrines -- Early works to 1800; Religious life -- Hinduism -- Early works to 1800
8. Continue in the practice of thy continuous actions, with an utter
oblivion of the past (nor need the assistance of thy memory of the
past, in the discharge of thy present duties); because thy habit of
activity is enough to conduct thee through all the actions of thy life,
as it is the habit of a half-sleeping baby to move its limbs (without
its consciousness of the movements). (Such is the force of habit, says
the maxim _Abhyastopapatti_—habit is second nature).
9. It requires no design or desire on the part of an actor to act his
part, whereto he is led by the tenor of his prior propensities (of past
lives); as a potter’s wheel is propelled by the pristine momentum,
without requiring the application of continued force for its whirling
motion. So O sinless Ráma! mind our actions to be under the direction of
our previous impressions, and not under the exertion of our present
efforts.
10. Hence inappetency has become the congenial tendency of your mind,
without its inclination to the gratification of its appetites. The
leanings of men to particular pursuits, are directed by the current of
their previous propensities. The predisposition of the mind, is said to
be the cause of the formation of the character and fortune of a man in
his present state, (which is otherwise said to be the result of his
predestination) which runs as a stream in wonted course, and carries all
men as straws floating along with its tide.
11. I am proclaiming it with a loud voice and lifted arms, and yet no
body will hearken unto me when I say that, want of desire is our supreme
bliss and summum bonum, and yet why is it that none would perceive it as
such?
12. O the wondrous power of illusion! that it makes men to slight their
reason, and throw away the richest jewel of their mind, from the chest
of their breast wherein it is deposited.
13. The best way to inappetence, is the ignoring and abnegation of the
phenomenals which I want you to do; and know that your disavowal of all
is of the greatest boon to you, as you will be best able to perceive in
yourself.
14. Sitting silent with calm content, will lead you to that blissful
state, before which your possession of an empire will seem
insignificant, and rather serving to increase your desire for more. (The
adage says:—No one has got over the ocean of his ambition, neither an
Alexander nor a Cæsar).
15. As the feet of a traveller are in continued motion, until he reaches
to his destination; so are the body and mind of the avaricious in
continual agitation, unless his inappetence would give him respite from
his incessant action.
16. Forget and forsake your expectation of fruition of the result of
your actions, and allow yourself to be carried onward by the current of
your fortune, and without taking anything to thy mind; as a sleeping man
is insensibly carried on by his dreams.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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