LECTURE ON THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF UNDERSTANDING. Argument:--Vasishtha’s commendation of Ráma’s knowledge, and his further questions for his trial and Ráma’s replies. Vasishtha said:--Bravo Ráma! that you are awakened to light and enlightened in your understanding; and the words you have spoken, are calculated to destroy the darkness of ignorant minds, and rejoice the hearts of wise. 2. These phenomenals that ever appear so very bright to our sight, lose their gloss at our want of desire and disregard of them; it is the knowledge of this truth, that is attended with our peace and tranquility, and our liberation and inexcitability. 3. All these imaginary sights vanish from our view, at the suppression of our imagination of them; just as the want of ventilation in the winds, reduces them to the level of the one common, and calm still air. 4. The enlightened man remaining unmoved as a stone, or moving quietly in his conduct in life (_i.e._ who is ever unruffled in his disposition), is verily said to have his clear liberation. 5. Look at yogis like ourselves, O Ráma, that having attained this state of liberation, have been cleansed from all our iniquities; and are now set at quiet rest, even in the conduct of our worldly affairs. 6. Know the great gods Brahmá, Vishnu and others, to have been situated in this state of quiet and freedom, that they are remaining as pure intelligences, even while discharging the offices of their godship. 7. Do you, O Ráma, attain the enlightenment of holy sages, and remain as still as a stone like ourselves. 8. Ráma replied:--I see this world as a formless void, situated in the infinite vacuity of Brahma; it is an uncreated and unsubstantial nihility, and with all its visibility, it is an invisible nothing. 9. It is as the appearance of water in the mirage, and as a whirlpool in the ocean; its glare is as glitter <of> gold in the dust, and of sands in the sandy shores of seas in sunshine. 10. Vasishtha said:--Ráma! if you have become so enlightened and intelligent, then I will tell you more for the edification of your understanding; and put some questions for your answer to them, in order to remove my doubts regarding them. 11. Tell me, how can the world be a nullity, when it shines so very brightly all about and above our heads; and how can all these things, which are so resplendent to sight, and always perceptible _to_ our senses. 12. Ráma replied:--The world was never created in the beginning, nor was anything ever produced at any time, it is therefore as nil as the offspring of an unprolific woman and a creation of our imagination only. 13. It is true that there is no result without its cause, or that nothing comes from nothing, but can be the cause of the world when it is a nullity, and a production of our error only. 14. The immutable and everlasting deity, cannot be the creator, without changing itself to a finite form; how can therefore be there a cause of this frail and finite form?