Rama is curious about jnani’s, illuminated ones, the Wise. What is their mind, what is their experience, what is their action? Do they participate in the world like you and me? The Sage answers.
Question 201-03: How is it this universe appears as real?
In the asrama of Sage Vasishtha, the young Rama continues to ask questions, seeking a clarified intellect. He asks about the kinds of ego, the inability of the jiva to see beyond maya to the nectarine form of Atma, and how is it that this universe appears as real?
Question 199/200 What is Chitta,
What is Atmaswaroop
The young Rama is confused as the word chitta has so many other words, synonyms, like this. What is the meaning of all these words for consciousness? Upon explanation, Rama asks more, the nature of attaining atmaswaroop … … the essential form of all that is.
Question 198: How is identification?
Rama asks ‘What is identification?’ The sage explains identification and body awareness, and the innumerable sufferings for those in bondage to the body, and to the desires for bodily pleasures. The sage recommends obtaining the nectar of detachment, so that you may attain bliss … …
Question 196: How is ignorance destroyed?
Rama asks ‘How to destroy ignorance?’ The sage replies that knowledge, self-enquiry, enquiry into the nature and purpose of this world is the needful. Wisdom exposes the attraction to material gratification. When this is lost, and body-ego is gone, then knowledge of the Atma arises. This is how the sage explains.
Question 194: How does a wise one participate in Society?
Rama asks how is it that some of the wise, ensconsed in samadhi, realisation of the Absolute, can remain in society. The Sage tells the story of King Suraghu of Kranti Desh, and how he eliminated the problem of punishing criminals. The outward going mind has to be managed, the impulses or desires that disturb the mind have to be eliminated. How? 75% of our time ought be spent in self-inquiry, and inquiry into the vagaries of the mind.
Question 189: How does one attain boons from the Lord?
The young Rama seeks elimination of doubt from the Sage, Vasishtha. How does one obtain boons from the Lord? The sage explains that boons are won by dint of spiritual effort and endeavour toward this end. Higher knowledge and spiritual wisdom are only bestown upon those who make effort, and struggle to realise the Atma, the Self.
Question 187-88: How does one attain knowledge?
The young Rama asks the sage about King Bali and how he attained knowledge. His father King Virochan replies speaking about the “king” and the “minister”, the Atma and the mind. King Bali asks his preceptor, Lord Sukra. Sukra replies that everthing is an aspect of the one consciousness. Thereafter, we learn about Prahlad, his devotion from birth to Lord Vishnu, and the story of the Narasimha avatara. Of course, Prahlad was lost in atmananda for 5000 years. He had to be called out of atmananda with the conch sound of Vishnu to rule.
Question 185-6: What are Bondage and Liberation?
The world, the Earth, the Universe – are all creations of the modifications of consciousness – which we bring with us when we are born. No one is born with a blank slate, tabula rasa as the philosophers claim. The world is experienced because of forgetfulness of Atma.
Q184: the attitude that leads to self development and realisation of innate divinity?
An interesting question is raised: What must be the attitude or faith of a seeker interested in self-development? In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells Only one person in many thousands seeks full God-knowledge. And of these, only one in many thousands truly gains it. Despite these odds, it is the intent of God that all beings are, in the fullness of time, destined to reach this degree of perfection. What, then is the attitude that leads to self development and realisation of innate divinity?