Chapter CXVI - Melting down of the mind

Argument: The Dissolation of the Mind and its Affections, as the only way for salvation of the soul.

Rama said:—

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O all-knowing sage please to tell me, what becomes of the essence of the soul after one's egoism is lost in his mind, and both of them are dissolved into nothing.

Vasishtha replied:—

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However great and predominant is one's egoism over himself, and how much so ever its concomitant evils of pride and ignorance, may overpower on man; yet they can never touch the pure essence of the soul, as the water of the lake can not come in contact with the lotus-leaf.

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The purity of the soul appears vividly in the bright and placid countenance of a man, after his egoism and its accompanying faults are all melted down in his mortified mind.

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All the ties of our passions and affections are cut asunder and fall off, upon breaking the string of our desires, our anger becomes weakened, and our ignorance wears out by degrees (our desire or greediness being the root of all evils).

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Our cupidity is weakened and wearied, and our covetousness flies away far from us; our limbs become slackened, and our sorrows subside to rest.

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It is then that our afflictions fail to afflict as our joys cease to elate us; we have then a calm every where and a coldness in our heart.

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Joy and grief now and then overcast his countenance, (as a cloud and sunbeam hide the face of the sky); but they cannot over shadow his soul, which is bright as eternal day.

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The virtuous man becomes a favourite of the Gods, after his mind is melted down with its passions; and then there rises the calm evenness of his soul, resembling the cooling beams of the moon.

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He bears a calm and quiet disposition, offending and opposing to none, and therefore loved and honored by everyone; he remains retired and assiduous to his task, and enjoys the serenity of his soul at all times.

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Neither wealth nor poverty, nor prosperity or adversity, however opposite they are to one another; can ever affect or mislead or elate or depress the minds of the virtuous (who have already melted them down in themselves).

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Accursed is the man that is drowned in his ignorance, and does not seek the salvation of his soul, which is easily obtainable by the light of reason, and which serves to save him from all the difficulties of this world. (Reliance in the immortality of the soul, supports a man amidst all earthly calamities).

12. [Sanskrit available]
He that wants to obtain his longed for felicity, by getting over the waves of his miserable transmigrations in the vast ocean of this world;must always inquire in himself as what am I, and what is this world and what am I to be afterwards; what means this short lived enjoyments here, and what are the fruitions of my future state. These inquiries are the best expedients towards the salvation of the soul.