THE MIND
IS
THE HUB OF THE WORLD APPEARANCE Again, how can we relate which is seen in an hallucination
and what is seen 'in front of our eyes?' Or what is truly unreal and
what has really undergone a factual transformation? Hence, this cosmic
illusion leads the unwary mind into endless difficulties. The mind is the hub around which this vicious cycle
revolves, creating delusion in the minds of the deluded. It is by firmly restraining that
hub through intense self-effort and keen intelligence that the
whole wheel is brought to a standstill. When the hub's motion is stopped, the wheel does not revolve: when
the mind is stilled... illusion ceases. One who does not
know this trick and does not practise it, undergoes endless sorrow. The
moment the truth is seen, behold... the sorrow comes to an end. The disease of the perception of this world-illusion is
not cured except through the mastery of the mind, which
is its only remedy. Hence, abandon all other activities like pilgrimage,
gifts and austerities, and bring the mind under your control for
your ultimate good. The world appearance abides in the mind, even
as there is space in the pot; if the pot is broken, the illusory division
of space vanishes; and if the mind ceases to be, the
concept of a world within the mind also ceases to be. Even as an insect trapped within the pot attains freedom of
movement when the pot is broken, you will also enjoy freedom
when the mind ceases to be, along with the world-illusion
contained in it. Live in the present, with your consciousness externalized
momentarily but without any effort: when the mind stops linking
itself to the past and to the future it becomes no-mind. If
from moment to moment your mind dwells on what is and drops
it effortlessly at once, the mind becomes no-mind, full
of purity. It is only as long as the mind continues to be agitated that it experiences the diversity of its own projection
or expansion, even as rain falls only as long as there are clouds.
And, it is only as long as infinite consciousness limits itself into
the finite mind, that such agitation and expansion take place. If
consciousness ceases to be the finite mind, then know that the
very roots of cyclic world-illusion are burnt, and there is
perfection. Consciousness free from the limitations of the mind is known
as the inner intelligence: it is the essential nature
of no-mind, and therefore it is not tainted by the impurities of concepts
and percepts. That is the reality, that is supreme auspiciousness, that
is the state known as the supreme Self, that is omniscience - and that
vision is not had when the mind functions. Where there is mind,
there flourish hopes and desires, and there arise the experiences
of pain and pleasure. The consciousness which has been awakened to the truth
does not fall into concepts and percepts: therefore, even
though it seems to undergo various psychological experiences, it
does not give rise to the world-illusion and the cycle of world-appearance. The self alone is the sole aid for the realization of the
supreme self or the infinite consciousness. It is one's own self that
strives to abandon one's own sorrow, and for this the realization
of one's own self by oneself is the only course. Hence, while yet remaining active in this
world (talking, taking and leaving, etc), be without the mind
and realize that you are pure consciousness. Abandon notions such as 'This is mine', 'That is he', 'This
I am' and be established in the consciousness of undivided oneness. As long as the body lasts, consider the present and
the future with an equananimous consciousness. Be forever
established in the consciousness of the self at all states - youth,
manhood and old age, pleasure and pain, in the waking, dream and
sleep states. Abandon the impurity of objective perception, hopes
and desires: remain established in self-knowledge. Give up notions of auspicious and inauspicious happenings, give
up your visions of the desirable and the undesirable: know
that you are the essence of consciousness. Realize that subject, object and actions do not touch
you; remain as pure consciousness without any disturbance in it.
Know 'I am the all' and live in the waking state as if in deep sleep. Be freed from conditions known as duality and non-duality, and remain in a state of equilibrium which is a state
of pure consciousness and freedom. Realize that this cosmic consciousness
is indivisible into 'I' and 'the other' and thus remain firm
and unshakable. It is only when this self-knowledge is overpowered
by ignorance that the delusion of world appearance arises
in the mind. But when one is firmly established
in self-knowledge - which is infinite, unlimited and unconditioned.... the
delusion or ignorance that gave rise to the world
appearance comes to an end.
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