17. Living the animal life (for the gratification of carnal appetites), leads only to the bearing of woes and misery; and men thus bound by the chain of their animal desires, are as big boats, burdened with loads of their ballast and cargo. 18. They are never blest with liberation, who are strangers to reasoning and addicted to the gross thoughts of ignorance; for how is it possible to obtain in this life, what is attainable only by the deceased in the next world. (This means the disembodied liberation—_Videha mukti_, which is to be had after one’s death). 19. Whatever a man fancies in this life, and desires to have in the next, (as his hopes of heavenly rewards); he dies with the same and finds them in his future life; but where there is no such fancy, desire or hope, that is truly the state of everlasting bliss. 20. Therefore be fearless with the thought of there being no such thing, as yourself or any one else (that you may believe as a real entity); by knowing this truth, you will find this poisonous world, turn to a paradise to you. (Think of nothing, and you will have no fear for anything). 21. Examine your whole material body, as composed of your outer frame and the inner mind; and say in what part you find your egoism to be situated; if no where, then own the truth of your having no ego any where. 22. Seeing all and every part of it up to the seat of your egoism, and finding it to be seated no where; you see only an open space (which is identic with the soul), and whereof no part is ever lost or destroyed. 23. In this (attainment of liberation) you are required to do no more, than to exert your manliness in relinquishing your enjoyments, cultivating your reasoning powers, and governing yourself by subduing the members of your body and mind. Therefore, ye ignorant men, that are desirous of your liberation, delay no longer to practice the government of yourselves (by shunning everything that relates not to yourselves). 24. The learned explain liberation to consist in the meditation of God, without any desire of the heart or duplicity in the mind; and this they say is not possible to do, without the assistance of spiritual knowledge. But the world being full of error, it is requisite to derive this knowledge from spiritual works _moksha sástras_, or else it is very likely to be entrapped in the very many snares, which are for ever set all about this earth. 25. Knowing full well the unreality of the world, and the uncertainty of one’s self and body, and of his friends, family and wealth and possessions; whoso is distrustful of them and identifies himself with his intelligence and pure vacuity, verily finds his liberation in this, and in no other state whatsoever. CHAPTER XXXI. SERMON ON THE MEANS OF ATTAINING THE _Nirvána_ EXTINCTION.