From the Archives of Swami Jyotirmayananda
In a world that constantly pours “news” of calamity, loss, and mortality into our minds, finding unshakable peace can seem impossible. We often feel like a reflected sun—distorted and shaken by every ripple in the water. But what if you could realize you are the sun itself, high above, untouched by the movement below? In this teaching from the Yoga Vasistha, Swami Jyotirmayananda guides us on a journey from the fearful ego to the fearless Self.
The Mind vs. The Self
The root of fear does not lie in the Self, but in the mind. Just as a screen remains unaffected by the tragic or violent movie projected onto it, your true “I Am” remains untouched by the predicaments of life. The trouble arises when we identify with the “reflected sun”—the ego—rather than the source. The world you experience is merely a projection of chitta-vrittis (thought waves). When you wake up from a dream, the dream fire cannot burn you. Similarly, when you wake up to your spiritual reality, the fires of the world cool down.
Om Upasana: The Path to the Absolute
Swamiji elucidates the profound practice of Om Upasana to dismantle the layers of false identity:
- ‘A’ (Wakeful State/Virat): We start by identifying with the physical body. Wisdom teaches us that our body is just a wave in the universal ocean of matter (Virat).
- ‘U’ (Dream State/Hiranyagarbha): We move deeper to the mind. We realize our individual mind is but a ripple in the Cosmic Mind (Hiranyagarbha).
- ‘M’ (Deep Sleep/Ishwara): We dive into the unconscious, the causal body, which is part of the Cosmic Causal Body (Ishwara).
- The Silence (Turiya): When A, U, and M dissolve, what remains is the pure mystic silence—Turiya. This is your true “I Am.”
Navigating Grief and Relationships
A sage does not become heartless; rather, they become the ocean. The ocean is not disturbed by how waves behave with one another. Knowing that the soul is immortal—merely changing bodies like old clothes—the sage grieves neither for the living nor the dead. This vision allows one to offer true strength and peace to others during times of loss, rather than joining in the illusion of tragedy.
Conclusion
To attain limitless freedom, we must adopt one of two attitudes: either “Nothing is real, the world is an illusion” or “Everything is Brahman, the Absolute.” Both lead to the cessation of Raga-Dvesha (attachment and hatred). By anchoring yourself in the internal reality, you become like the sky—welcoming the clouds but never defined by them.
Scholar’s Corner
- Scripture: Yoga Vasistha, Nirvana Prakarana, Purvardha, Section 28.
- Key Teaching: The distinction between the reflected self (Jiva) and the Absolute Self (Brahman), and the application of Om Upasana to transcend the three worlds (Lokas).
Glossary of Terms
- Brahman: The Absolute Reality; Pure Consciousness.
- Chitta-vrittis: Thought waves or modifications of the mind.
- Jiva: The individual soul identified with the ego.
- Virat: The cosmic physical form; the universal body.
- Hiranyagarbha: The cosmic mind; the “golden womb” of creation.
- Ishwara: The cosmic causal body; the Lord.
- Turiya: The fourth state of consciousness; the transcendental reality beyond waking, dreaming, and sleeping.
- Samyak Jnana: Right knowledge; true enlightenment.
- Raga-Dvesha: The cycle of attachment (likes) and aversion (dislikes).
Watch the full lecture here: https://youtu.be/tXO8CrYybWU
Join the Community: Stay connected with us on WhatsApp for daily spiritual updates: https://bit.ly/4dgDWKn