‘I’ is the
Seed of the Tree of Mind
The mind is like a
wheel which revolves endlessly with tremendous velocity. It generates new
thoughts with every revolution. This wheel is set in motion by the vibration of
psychic Prana or subtle Prana.
The idea of ‘I’ is
the seed of the tree of mind. The sprout which at first germinates from this
seed of Ahamkara originates without form and is ascertainable only by internal
experience. This sprout is Buddhi or intellect. From this sprout the ramifying
branches called Sankalpas or thoughts take their origin.
Mark how one
Sankalpa expands into many Sankalpas (Vistara) in a short time. Suppose you get
a Sankalpa to have tea-party for your friends. One thought of tea invites
instantaneously the thoughts of sugar, milk, tea-cups, tables, chairs, table
cloth, napkins, spoons, sweetmeats, salted things, etc. So this world is
nothing but the expansion of Sankalpas. The expansion of thoughts of the mind
towards objects is bondage. Renunciation of Sankalpas is liberation (Moksha).
You must be ever watchful in nipping the Sankalpas in the bud. Then only you
will be really happy. Daily chop off the branches of this dire tree of mind and
finally destroy the tree at its root completely. If you destroy the idea of ‘I’
at the root of the tree (mind), then it will not again spring up. The chopping
off of the branches is only a secondary thing. The primary thing is the
eradication of the tree at its root.
Sankalpa only is
Samsara. Its destruction is Moksha. It is only Sankalpa destroyed beyond
resurrection that constitutes the immaculate Brahmic seat. As the cause of
bondage is Sankalpa you should root it away from you as completely as possible.
This destruction of Sankalpa should be intelligently practiced. Do not become
of the form of objects or the knower enjoying the same. Where there exists
conception of the objects and the enjoyer of the same, you should gradually and
at all times destroy this Sankalpa. After destroying all Sankalpas become That
which remains.
Thoughts gain
strength by repetition. If you entertain an evil thought or a good thought
once, this evil thought or good thought has a tendency to recur again. Thoughts
crowd again. Just as the birds of the same feather flock together, so also if
you entertain one evil thought all sorts of evil thoughts join together and
attack you. If you entertain any good thought all good thoughts join together.
Like attracts
like. If you entertain an evil thought that thought attracts all sorts of evil
thoughts from others. You pass on the thoughts to others also. Thought moves.
Thought is a living dynamic force. Thought is a thing. If you allow your mind
to dwell on a sublime thought this thought will attract good thoughts from
others. You pass on that good thought to others. You pollute the world with
your bad thoughts. You help the world with your good thoughts. When you reach
the spiritual summit of thoughtlessness you will reach the abode of Immortality
and eternal peace and supreme bliss.
Therefore this ‘I’
should be identified with that which remains after eliminating all the above
five illusory sheaths. It is by nature Sat-chit-ananda. This is the Immortal
Soul, Atman or Brahman. Through ignorance, through superimposition you have
mistaken these five illusory sheaths for the pure immortal Atman. Transcend the
five sheaths by attaining knowledge of the Self and be free. Rest in your own
Sat-chit-ananda Svarupa by knowing ‘Who am I?’
Continue to read:
Easy Steps
to Yoga by Swami Sivananda
If you would like to purchase the print edition, visit:
http://www.dlshq.org/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?
http://www.dlshq.org/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?
If you would
like to contribute to the dissemination of spiritual knowledge please contact
the General Secretary at:
No comments:
Post a Comment