From the Archives of Swami Jyotirmayananda
“Unwittingly, everyone has created their circumstances of positive or negative, led by the way they have handled their mind.”
In the vast ocean of Vedantic literature, the Yoga Vasistha stands as a towering lighthouse of non-dual wisdom. In this profound teaching, Sri Swami Jyotirmayananda, the last direct disciple of Swami Sivananda, guides us through the Sthiti Prakarana (Section 54) to understand a fundamental truth: the world you experience is not an external reality imposed upon you, but a projection of your own Chitta (mind-stuff).
The Cinema Screen Analogy
To truly grasp the relationship between the Self and the World, Swamiji employs the vivid metaphor of a cinema show. Before the movie commences, you simply perceive the screen itself. It’s devoid of dimension, narrative, or conflict. However, once the projection begins, the screen subtly “moves away” from your conscious attention.
You become utterly engrossed in the unfolding story—identifying with what is up, what is down, who succeeds, who fails. This entire captivating drama of time, space, and causation is a “Bhava Pratyaya“—a projection that meticulously crafts the illusion of the world.
Yet, whether the film is a heart-wrenching tragedy or a joyous comedy, the underlying screen remains utterly untainted. “Infinity minus infinity is infinity,” Swamiji profoundly reminds us. You cannot diminish the Fullness (Poornam). Your essential, immutable nature is precisely that Screen—Pure Consciousness itself.
The Nature of Sankalpa
What is the driving force behind this relentless projection? It is Sankalpa—the constructive will or imagination of the mind. Swamiji draws an insightful comparison between Sankalpa and a cloud. A cloud can create a dramatic, breathtaking display of colors and rainbows when the sun shines through it, yet the cloud itself is nothing more than ephemeral moisture and dust particles.
Similarly, the “cloud” of Samsara (the world-process) is, in essence, nothing but a bundle of your individual Sankalpas. It possesses no substantial, independent reality. When you begin to analyze it with the penetrating light of spiritual wisdom, these Sankalpas naturally dissolve, much like a cloud disperses and vanishes into the vast sky.
“The growth and intensification of Sankalpa gives rise to increasing pain and misery, while the attenuation and destruction of Sankalpa gives rise to increasing joy and inner peace.”
The Trap of Memory
One of the most potent fuels for Sankalpa is memory. Swamiji issues a clear warning against dwelling excessively on the past. When you constantly recite your personal history, dig up old photographs, and relive past joys and sorrows, you are inadvertently intensifying the illusory ego and cementing its hold.
“Do not live in the memories of the past,” Swamiji advises with urgency. Instead, consciously correct your Sankalpa. Shift your focus from worldly desires to Sat-Sankalpa—the resolute will for Truth. Resolve: “May I attain enlightenment. May I realize who I am.”
Scholar’s Corner: Scriptural Citations
- Yoga Vasistha, Sthiti Prakarana, Section 54: The foundational text for this profound exposition on the nature of the Self and the mind.
- Purnamadah Purnamidam: The quintessential Peace Chant from the Isha Upanishad, declaring that the Absolute is Full, and the relative world, emerging from it, is also Full.
- Mahavakyas (Great Utterances):
- Prajnanam Brahman: Consciousness is Brahman.
- Tat Tvam Asi: Thou Art That.
- Ayam Atma Brahma: This Self is Brahman.
- Aham Brahmasmi: I am Brahman.
Glossary of Terms
- Chitta: The mind-stuff; the subconscious mind where memories, impressions, and inherent tendencies are stored.
- Sankalpa: Thought-construction; will; imagination; the fundamental root of desire and mental projection.
- Sat-Sankalpa: Pure will; the unwavering resolve to realize the ultimate Truth.
- Sat-Chit-Ananda: Existence-Consciousness-Bliss Absolute; the intrinsic nature of the Self.
- Mahavakya: A “Great Saying” or aphorism from the Upanishads, encapsulating a core Vedantic truth.
Watch the full lecture here: https://youtu.be/30w8APg6Bw4
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