From the Archives of Swami Jyotirmayananda
We spend our lives tending to the body, identifying with it, and worrying about its inevitable end. Yet, in the profound teachings of the Yoga Vasistha, Sage Vasistha presents a radical truth to Lord Rama: the body is not a solid reality created by a creator, but a projection of the mind, similar to a dream or a mirage in the desert.
When asked, “Who created this body?”, Sage Vasistha responds by dismantling the premise of the question itself. He compares it to asking, “Who painted the sky blue?” The sky has no color; the blueness is an optical illusion created by the eyes. Similarly, the body has no independent reality; it is an illusion created by the conditioned mind. As long as we are asleep in ignorance, the dream body feels real. Upon awakening to the Self, it is known to be Anirvacaniya—indescribable, neither real nor unreal.
The Body: A Perishable Palace of Nine Gates
The scriptures describe the body allegorically as a residence or palace supported by pillars of bone and plastered with flesh and blood. It has nine gates (senses) through which we interact with the world. However, like the “House of Lac” in the Mahabharata, it is perishable and combustible. Identifying with this perishable structure is the root of fear and bondage.
Cleaning the Mirror of the Mind: Removing Impurities
To realize our true nature, we must turn inward. Swamiji explains that the mind is like a mirror covered by three defects:
The Three Defects of the Mind
- Mala (Impurity): The dust on the surface, representing gross negative emotions like anger and greed.
- Vikshepa (Distraction): The distortion in the reflection, representing the oscillating nature of the mind.
- Avarana (Veil): The ignorance that completely hides our true face.
The 3-S Technique for Purification
How do we clean this mirror? Swamiji offers a practical mantra: Suppress, Substitute, Sublimate.
- Suppress:
- When negativity arises (like anger), do not act on it immediately. Step back.
- Substitute:
- Replace the negative thought with a positive action or affirmation. Nourish the mind with Satsanga.
- Sublimate:
- Through meditation and wisdom, transform the energy of the vice into a virtue.
By purifying our Bhavana (internal attitude), we change our experience of the world. When the mind is pure, the world is seen not as a place of misery, but as a manifestation of Brahman.
Scholar’s Corner
Scriptural Reference:
- Text: Yoga Vasistha, Nirvana Prakarana, Purvardha
- Section: 28 (The Illusion of the Body and the World)
- Speaker: Sage Vasistha addressing Sri Rama
Glossary of Key Terms
- Anirvacaniya:
- Indescribable; the nature of Maya, which is neither real (Sat) nor unreal (Asat).
- Bhavana:
- Deep-seated mental attitude or feeling that shapes one’s perception of reality.
- Mala:
- Gross impurities of the mind, such as lust, anger, and greed.
- Vikshepa:
- The tossing or oscillating nature of the mind; distraction.
- Avarana:
- The veiling power of ignorance that hides the Truth.
- Rakshagriha:
- A house made of combustible materials (lac), referring to the fragility of the body.
- Vrittis:
- Thought waves or mental modifications.
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