YOGA INTRODUCTION

                                                 STUDY ABOUT YOGA

             BEFORE GOING INTO THE YOGA APHORISMS, I WILL TRY TO DISCUSS ONE GREAT QUESTION, UPON WHICH THE WHOSE THEORY OF RELIGION RESTS, FOR THE YOGIS. IT SEEMS THE CONSENSUS OF OPINION OF THE GREAT MINDS OF THE WORLD-AND IT HAS BEEN NEARLY DEMONSTRATED BY RESEARCHES INT PHYSICAL NATURE- THAT WE AR THE OUTCOME AND MANIFESTATION OF AN ABSOLUTE CONDITION, BACK OF OUR PRESENT RELATIVE CONDITION, AND ARE GOING FORWARD, TO RETURN AGAIN TO THAT ABSOLUTE. THIS BEING GRANTED, THE QUESTION IS, WHICH IS BETTER- THE ABSOLUTE OR THIS STATE? THERE ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT THIS MANIFESTED STATE IS THE HIGHEST STATE OF MAN.

                   THINKERS OF GREAT CALIBER ARE OF THE OPINION THAT WE ARE MANIFESTED SPECIMENS OF UNDIFFERENTIATED BEING, AND THIS DIFFERENTIATED STATE IS HIGHER THAN THE ABSOLUTE. BECAUSE IN THE ABSOLUTE THERE CANNOT BE ANY QUALITY THEY IMAGINE THAT IT MUST BE INTENSATE, DULL, AND LIFELESS, THAT ONLY THIS LIFE CAN BE ENJOYED, AND THEREFORE WE MUST CLING TO IT, FIRST OF ALL. WE WANTS INQUIRE INTO OTHER SOLUTIONS OF LIFE. THERE WAS AN OLD SOLUTION THAT MAN AFTER DEATH REMAINDED THE SAME, THAT ALL HIS GOOD SIDES, MINUS HIS EVIL SIDES, REMAINED FOREVER.

            LOGICALLY STATED THIS MEANS THAT MAN'S GOAL IS THE WORLD. THIS WORLD CARRIED A STAGE HIGHER, AND WITH ELIMINATION OF ITS EVILS IS THE STATE THEY CALL HEAVEN.  

           THE MOST DIFFICULT PART TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THIS STATE, THE ABSOLUTE, WHICH HAS BEEN CALLED THE HIGHEST, IS NOT, AS SOME FEAR, THAT OF THE ZOOPHITE, OR OF THE STONE. THAT WOULD BE A DANGEROUS THING TO THINK. ACCORDING TO THESE THINKERS THERE ARE ONLY TWO STATES OF EXISTENCE, ONE OF THE STONE, AND THE OTHER OF THOUGHT. WHAT RIGHT HAVE THEY TO LIMIT EXISTENCE TO THESE TWO. IS THERE NOT SOMETHING INFINITELY SUPERIOR TO THOUGHT? THE VIBRATIONS OF LIGHT, WHEN THEY ARE VERY LOW, WE DO NOT SEE, WHEY THEY BECOME STILL MORE INTENSE WE DO NOT SEE THEM, IT IS DARK TO US. IS THE DARKNESS IN THE END THE SAME AS IN THE BEGINNING? CERTAINLY NOT, IT IS THE DIFFERENCE OF THE TWO POLES. IS THE THOUGHTLESSNESS OF THE STONE THE SAME AS THE THOUGHTLESSNESS OF GOD? CERTAINLY NOT. GOD DOES NOT THINK, HE DOES NOT REASON, WHY SOULD HE? IS ANYTHING UNKNOWN TO HIM, THAT HE SHOULD REASON? THE STONE CANNOT REASON, GOD DOES NOT. SUCH IS THE DIFFERENCE. THESE PHILOSOPHERS THINK IT IS AWFUL IT WE GO BEYOND THOUGHT, THEY FIND NOTHING BEYOND THOUGHT.

             THERE ARE MUCH HIGHER STATES OF EXITENCE BEYOND REASONING, IT IS REALLY BEYOND THE INTELLECT THAT THE FIRST STAGE OF RELIGIOUS LIFE IS TO BE FOUND. WHEN YOU STEP BEYOND THOUGHT AND INTELLECT AND ALL REASONING, THEN YOU HAVE MADE THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS GOD, AND THAT IS THE BEGINNING OF LIFE. THIS THAT, COMMONLY CALLED LIFE, IS BUT AND EMBRYO STATE.

            THE NEXT QUESTION WILL BE, WHAT PROOF IS THERE THAT THIS STATE BEYOND THOUGHT AND REASONING IS THE HIGHEST STATE? IN THE FIRST PLACE, ALL THE GREAT MEN OF THE WORLD, MUCH GREATER THAN THOSE THAT ONLY TALK, MEN WHO MOVED THE WORLD, MEN WHO NEVER THOUGHT OF ANY SELFISH ENDS WHATEVER, HAVE DECLARED THAT  THIS IS BUT A LITTLE STAGE ON THE WAY, THAT THE INFINITE IS BEYOND. IN THE SECOND PLACE, THEY NOT ONLY SAY SO, BUT LAY IT OPEN TO EVERYONE, THEY LEAVE THEIR METHODS, AND ALL FOLLOW IN THEIR STEPS. IN THE THIRD PLACE, THERE IS NO OTHER WAY LEFT. 

                THERE IS NO OTHER EXPLANATION. TAKING FOR GRANTED THAT THERE IS NO HIGHER STATE, WHY AREWE GOING THROUGH THIS CIRCLE ALL THE TIME, WHAT REASON CAN EXPLAIN THE WORLD? THE SENSIBLE WILL BE THE LIMIT TO OUR KNOWLEDGE IF WE CANNOT GO FARTHER, IF WE MUST NOT ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE. THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED AGNOSTICISM. BUT I WOULD CALL THAT MAN A TRUE AGNOSTIC WHO WOULD STAND STILL IN THE STREET AND DIE. IF REASON IS ALL IN ALL, IT LEAVES US NO PLACE TO STAND ON THIS SIDE OF NIHILISM. IF A MAN IS AGNOSTIC O EVERYTHING BUT MONEY, FAME AND NAME, HE IS ONLY A FRAUD.

                KAND HAS PROVED BEYOND ALL DOUBT THAT WE CANNOT PENETRATE BEYOND THE TREMENDOUS DEAD WALL CALLED REASON. BUT THAT IS THE VERY FIST IDEA UPON WHICH ALL INDIAN THOUGHT TAKES ITS STAND, AND DARES TO SEEK, AND SUCCEEDS IN FINDING SOMETHING HIGHER THAN REASON, WHERE ANONE THE EXPLANATION OF THE PRESENT STATE IS TO BE FOUND. THIS ISTHE VALUE OF THE STUDY OF SOMETHING THAT WILL TAKE US BEYOND THE WORLD. THOU ART OUR FATHER, AND WILT TAKE US TO THE OTHER SHORE OF THIS OCEAN OF IGNORANCE, THAT IS THE SCIENCE OF RELIGION, NOTHING ELSE CAN DO.

ABOUT LIFE

                                                  THE  MEANING OF LIFE

                LONG IS THE NIGHT TO HIM WHO IS AWAKE, LONG IS A MILE TO HIM WHO IS TIRED, LONG IS LIFE TO THE FOOLISH WHO DO NOT KNOW THE TRUE LAW. IF A TRAVELLER DOES NOT MEET WITH ONE WHO IS HIS BETTER, OR HIS EQUAL, LET HIM FIRMLY KEEP TO HIS SILITARY JOURNEY, THERE IS NO COMPANIONSHIP WITH A FOOL.  "THESE SONS BELONG TO ME, AND THIS WEALTH BELONGS TO ME, WITH SUCH THOUGHTS A FOOL IS TORMENTED. HE HIMSELF DOES NOT BELONG TO HIMSELF, HOW MUCH LESS SONS AND WEALTH?

               THE FOOL WHO KNOWS HIS FOLLISHNESS, IS WISE AT LEAST SO FAR. BUT A FOOL WHO THINKS HIMSELF WISE, HE IS CALLED A FOOL INDEED. IF A FOOL BE ASSOCIATED WITH A WISE MAN EVEN ALL HIS LIFE. HE WILL PERCEIVE THE TRUTH, AS THE TONGUE PERCEIVES THE TASTE OF SOUP. FOOLS OF POOR UNDERSTANDING HAVE THEMSELVES FOR THEIR GREATEST ENEMIES, FOR THEY DO EVIL DEEDS WHICH BEAR BITTER FUITS.  THAT DEED IS NOT WELL DONE OF WHICH A MAN MUST REPENT, AND THE REWARD OF WHICH HE RECEIVES CRYING AND WIT A TEARFUL FACE. NO, THAT DEED IS WELL DONE OF WHICH A MAN DOES NOT REPENT, AND THE REWARD OF WHICH HE RECEIVES GLADLY AND CHEERFULLY. AS LONG AS THE EVIL DEED DONE DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT, THE FOOL THINKS IT IS LIKE HONEY, BUT WHEN IT RIPENS, THEN THE FOOL SUFFERS GRIEF.

                LET A FOOL MONTH AFTER MONTH EAT HIS FOOD (LIKE AN ASCETIC) WITH THE TIP OF A BLADE OF KUSA GRASS, YET IS HE NOT WORTH THE SIXTEEN PARICLES OF THOSE WHO HAVE WELL WEIGHED THE LAW. AN EVIL DEED, LIKE NEWLY-DRAWN MILK, DOES NOT TURN SUDDENLY, SMOULDERING, LIKE FIRE COVERED BY ASHES, IT FOLLOWS THE FOOL. AND WHEN THE EVIL DEED, AFTER IT HAS BECOME KNOWN, TURNS TO SORROW FOR THE FOOL, THEN IT DESTROYS HIS BRIGHT LOT, NAY, IT CLEAVES HIS HEAD. LET THE FOLL WISH FOR A FALSE REPUTATION FOR PRECEDENCE AMONG THE BHIKSHUS FOR LORDSHIP IN HE CONCENTS, FOR WORSHIP AMONG OTHER PEOPLE!

              MAY BOTH THE LAYMAN AND HE WHO HAS LEFT THE WORLD THINK THAT THIS IS DONE BY ME, MAY THEY BE SUBJECT TO ME IN EVERYTHING WHICH IS TO BE DONE OR IS NOT TO BE DONE, THUS IS THE MIND OF THE FOOL, AND HIS DESIRE AND PRIDE INCREASE. ONE IS THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO WEALTH, ANOTHER THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO NERVANA- IT THE BHIKSHU THE DISCIPLE OF BUDDHA, HAS LEARNT THIS, HE WILL NOT YEARN FOR HONOR, HE WILL AFTER SEPERATION FROM THE WORLD .

                                                THE WISE MAN

            IF YOU SEE, A MAN WHO SHOWS YOU WHAT IS TO BE AVOIDED, WHO ADMISNISTERS REPROOFS, AND IS INTELLIGENT, FOLLOW THAT WISE MAN AS YOU WOULD ONE WHO TELLS OF HIDDEN TREASURES, IT WILL BE BETTER, NOT WORSE, FOR HIM WHO FOLLOWS HIM. LET HIM ADMONISH, LET HIM TEACH, LET HIM FORBID WHAT IS IMPROPER! HE WILL BE BELOVED OF THE GOOD, BY THE BAD HE WILL BE HATRED. DO NOT HAVE EVIL-DOERS FOR FRIEDS, DO NOT HAVE LOW PEOPLE FOR FRIENDS, HAVE VIRTUOS PEOPLE FOR FRIENDS, HAVE FOR FRIENDS THE BEST OF MEN.HE WHO DRINKS IN THE LAW LIVES HAPPILY WITH A SERENE MIND, THE SAGE REJOICES ALWAYS IN THE LAW, AS PREACHED BY THE ELECT.

             WELL-MAKERS LEAD THE WATER WHEREVER THEY LIKE, FLETCHES BEND THE ARROW, CARPENTERS BEND O LOG OF WOOD, WISE PEOPLE FASHION THEMSELVES. AS A SOLID ROCK IS NOT SHAKEN BY THE WIND, WISE PEOPLE FALTER NOT AMIDST BLAME AND PRAISE. WISE PEOPLE,  AFTER THEY HAVE LISTENED TO THE LAWS, BECOME SERENE, LIKE A DEEP, SMOOTH, AND STILL LAKE. GOOD MEN INDEED WALK WARILY UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, GOOD MEN SPEAK NOT OUT OF A DESIRE FOR SENSUAL GRATIFICATION, WHETHER TOUCHED BY HAPPINESS OR SORROW WISE PEOPLE NEVER APPEAR ELATED OR DEPRESED. IF, WHETHER FOR HIS OWN SAKE, OR FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS, A MAN WISHES NEITHER FOR A SON, NOR FOR WEALTH, NOR FOR LORDSHIP, AND IF HE DOES NOT WISH FOR HIS OWN SUCCESS BY UNFAIR MEANS, THEN HE IS GOOD, WISE, AND VIRTOUS. 

             FEW ARE THERE AMONG MEN WHO ARRIVE AT THE OTHER SHORE(BECOME ARHATS), THE OTHER PEOPLE HERE RUN UP AND DOWN THE SHORE!

              BUT WHOSE WHO, WHENT HE LAW HAS BEEN WELL PREACHED TO THEM, FOLLOW THE LAW, WILL PASS OVER THE DOMINION OF DEATH, HOWEVER DIFFICULT TO CROSS. A WISE MAN SHOULD LEAVE THE DARK STATE OF ORDINARY LIFE, AND FOLLOW THE BRIGHT STATE OF THE BHISHU AFTER GOING FROM HIS HOME TO A HOMELESS STATE, HE SHOULD IN HIS RETIREMENT LOOK FOR ENJOYMENT WHERE ENJOYING HIS OWN, THE WISE MAN SHOULD PURGE HIMSELF FROM ALL THE TROUBLES OF THE MIND. THOSE WHOSE MIND IS WELL GROUNDED IN THE SEVEN ELEMENTS OF KNOWLEDGE, WHO WIHOUT CLINGING TO ANYTHING, REJOICES IN FREEDOM FROM ATTACHEMENT, WHOSE APPETITES HAVE BEEN CONQUERED, AND WHO ARE FULL OF LIGHT, THEY ARE FREE EVEN IN THIS WORLD.

                                                            THE THOUSANDS

 

     EVEN THOUGH A SPEECH BE A THOUSAND (OF WORDS) , BUT MADE UP OF SENSELESS WORDS, ONE WORD OF SENSE IS BETTER, WHICH IF A MAN HEARS, HE BECOMES QUIET. EVEN THOUGH A GATHA (POEM) BE A THOUSAND (OF WORDS), BUT MADE UP OF SENSELESS WORDS, ONE WORD OF A GATHA IS BETTER, WHICH IF A MAN HEARS, HE BECOMES QUIET. THOUGH A MAN RECITE A HUNDRED GATHAS MADE UP OF SENSELESS WORDS, ONE WORD OF THE LAW IS BETTER, WHICH IF A MAN HEARS, HE BECOMES QUIET. IF ONE MAN CONQUER HIMSELF, HE IS THE GREATEST OF CONQUERORS. ONE'S OWN SELF CONQUERED IS BETTER THAN ALL OTHER PEOPLE, NOT EVEN A GOD, A GANDHARVA, NOT MARA (WITH BRAHMAN), COULD CHANGE INTO DEFEAT THE VICORY OF A MAN HAS VANQUISHED HIMSELF, AND ALWAYS LIVES UNDER RESTRAINT.

              IF A MAN FOR A HUNDRED YEARS SACRIFICE MONTH BY MONTH WITH A THOUSAND, AND IF HE BUT FOR ONE MOMENT PAY HOMAGE TO A MAN WHOSE SOUL IS GROUNDED IN TRUE KNOWLEDGE, BETTER IN THAT HOMAGE THAN A SACRIFICE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS. IF A MAN FOR HUNDRED YEARS WORSHIP AGNI(FIRE) IN THE FOREST, AND IF HE BUT FOR ONE MOMENT PAY HOMAGE TO MAN WHOSE SOUL IS GROUNDED IN TRUE KNOWLEDGE, BETTER IS THAT HOMAGE THAN SACRIFICE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS.

            WHATEVER A MAN SACRIFIES IN THIS WORLD AS AN OFFERING OR AS AN OBLATION FOR A WHOLE YEAR IN ORDER TO GAIN MERIT, THE WHOLE OF IT IS NOT WORTH A QUARTER A FARTHING, REVERENCE SHOWN TO THE RIGHTEOUS IS BETTER. HE WHO ALWAYS GREETS AND CONSTANLY REVERES THE AGED, FOUR THINGS WILL INCREASE TO HIM, LIFE, BEAUTY, HAPPINESS, POWER. BUT HE WHO LIVES A HUNDRED YEARS, VICIOUS AND UNRESTRAINED, A LIFE OF ONE DAY IS BETTER IF A MAN IS VIRTUOS AND REFLECTING. 

                AND HE WHO LIVES A HUNDRED YEARS, IGNORANT AND UNRESTRAINED, A LIFE OF ONE DAY IS BETTER IF A MAN IS WISE AND REFLECTING. AND HE WHO LIVES HUNDRED YEARS, IDLE AND WEAK, A LIFE OF ONE DAY IS BETTER IF A MAN GAS ATTAINED FIRM STRENGTH. AND HE WHO LIVES A HUNDRED YEARS, NOT SEEING BEGINNING AND END, A LIFE OF ONE DAY IS BETTER IF A MAN SEES BEGINNING AND END. AND HE WHO LIVES HUNDRED YEARS, NOT SEEING THE IMMORTAL PLACE, A LIFE OF ONE DAY IS BETTER IF A MAN SEES THE IMMORTAL PLACE. AND HE WHO LIVES A HUNDRED YEARS, NOT SEEING THE HIGHEST LAW, A LIFE OF ONE DAY IS BETTER IF A MAN SEES THE HIGHEST LAW.

     

 

ABOUT YOUR INNER BODY

                                           DEEPLY INTO YOUR BODY

            I CAN FEEL THE ENERGY INSIDE MY BODY, ESPECIALLY IN MY ARMS LEGS, BUT DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO GO MORE DEEPLY, AS YOU SUGGESTED EARLIER. 

          MAKE IT INTO A MEDITATION. IT NEEDN'T TAKE LONG. TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES OF CLOCK TIME SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT. MAKE SURE FIRST THAT THERE ARE NO EXTERNAL DISTRACTIONS SUCH AS TELEPHONES OR PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKELY TO INTERRUPT YOU. SIT ON A CHAIR, BUT DON'T LEAN BACK. KEEP THE SPINE ERECT. DOING SO WILL HELP YOU TO STAY ALERT. ALTERNATIVELY, CHOOSE YOUR OWN FAVORITE POSITION FOR MEDITATION. 

        MAKE SURE THE BODY IS RELAXED. CLOSE YOUR EYES. TAKE A FEW DEEP BREATHS. FEEL YOURSELF BREATHING INTO THE LOWER ABDOMEN, AS IT WERE. OBSERVE HOW IT EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS SLIGHTLY WITH EACH IN AND OUT BREATH. THEN BECOME AWARE OF THE ENTIRE INNER ENERGY FIELD OF THE BODY. DON'T THINK ABOUT IT- FEEL IT. BY DOING THIS, YOU RECLAIM CONSCIOUSNESS FROM THE MIND. IF YOU FIND IT HELPFUL, USE THE "LIGHT" VISULIZATION I DESCRIBED EARLIER.

         WHEN YOU CAN FEEL THE INNER BODY CLEARLY AS A SINGLE FEILD OF ENERGY LET GO, IF POSSIBLE OF ANY VISUAL IMAGE AND FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON THE FEELING. IF YOU CAN, ALSO DROP ANY MENTAL IMAGE YOU MAY STILL HAVE OF THE PHYSICAL BODY. ALL THAT IS LEFT THEN IS ALL-ENCOMPASSING SENSE OF PRESENCE OR "BEINGNESS" AND THE INNER BODY IS FELT TO BE  WIHOUT A BOUNDARY. THEN TAKE YOUR ATTENTON EVEN MORE DEEPLY INTO THAT FEELING. THEN TAKE YOUR ATTENTION EVEN MORE DEEPLY INTO THAT FEELING. BECOME ONE WITH IT. MERGE WITH THE ENERGY FIELD, SO THAT THERE IS NO LONGER A PERCEIVED DUALITY OF THE OBSERVER AND THE OBSERVED, OF YOU AND YOUR BODY. THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN INNER AND OUTER ALSO DISSOLVES NOW, SO THERE IS NO INNER BODY ANYMORE. BY GOING DEEPLY INTO THE BODY, YOU HAVE TRANSCENDED  THE BODY.

                STAY IN THIS REALM OF PURE BEING FOR AS LONG AS FEELS COMFORTABLE, THEN BECOME AWARE AGAIN OF THE PHYSICAL BODY, YOUR BREATHING AND PHYSICAL SENSES, AND OPEN YOUR EYES, LOOK AT YOUR SURROUNDINGS FOR A FEW MINUTES IN A DEDIATIVE WAY-THAT IS, WIHOUT LABELING THEM MENTALLY-AND CONTINUE TO FEEL THE INNER BODY AS YOU DO SO.

            HAVING ACCESS TO THAT FORMLESS REALM IS TRULY LIBERATING. IT FEELS YOU FROM BONDAGE TO FORM AND IDENFICATION WITH FORM. IT IS LIFE IN ITS UNDIFFERENTIATED STATE PRIOR TO ITS FRAGMENTATION INTO MULTIPLICITY. WE MAY CALL IT THE UNMANIFESTED, THE INVISIBLE SOURCE OF ALL THINGS, THE BEING WITHIN ALL BEINGS, IT IS A REALM OF DEEP STILLNESS AND PEACE, BUT ALSO OF JOY AND INTENSE ALIVENESS. WHENEVER YOU ARE PRESENT, YOU BECOME "TRANSPARENT" TO SOME EXTENT TO THE LIGHT, THE PURE CONSCIOUSNESS THAT EMANATES FROM THIS SOURCE. YOU ALSO REALIZE THAT THE LIGHT IS NOT SEPARATE FROM WHO YOU ARE BUT CONSTITUTES YOUR VERY ESSENCE. 

            YOU TAKE A JOURNEY INTO THE UNMANIFESTED EVERY NIGHT WHEN YOU ENTER THE PHASE OF DEEP DREAMLESS SLEEP. YOU MERGE WITH THE SOURCE. YOU DRAW FROM IT THE VITAL ENERGY THAT SUSTAINS YOU FOR A WHILE WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE MANIFESTED, THE WORLD OF SEPERATE FORMS. THIS ENERGY IS MUCH MORE VITAL THAN FOOD. MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE. BUT IN DREAMLESS SLEEP, YOU DON'T GO INTO IT CONSCIOUSLY. ALTHOUGH THE BODILY FUNCTIONS ARE STILL OPERATING, "YOU" NO LONGER EXIST IN THAT STATE. CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO GO INTO DREAMLESS SLEEP WITH FULL CONSCIOUSNESS? IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE IT, BECAUSE THAT STATE HAS NO CONTENT.

              THE UNMANIFESTED DOES NOT LIBERATE YOU UNTIL YOU ENTER IT CONSCIOUSLY. THAT'S WHY JESUS DID NOT SAY, THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE, BUT RATHER. YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE, THIS IS NOT A CONCEPTUAL TRUTH. IT IS THE TRUTH OF ETERNAL LIFE BEYOND FORM, WHICH IS KNOWN DIRECTLY OR NOT AT ALL. BUT DON'T ATTEMPT TO STAY CONSCIOUS IN DREAMLESS SLEEP. IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT YOU WILL SUCCEED. AT MOST, YOU MAY REMAIN CONSCIOUS DURING THE DREAM SUCCEED. AT MOST, YOU MAY REMAIN CONSCIOUS DURING THE DREAM PHASE, BUT NOT BEYOND THAT. THIS IS CALLED LUCID DREAMING, WHICH MAY BE INTERESTING AND FASCINATING, BUT IT IS NOT LIBERATING.

             SO USE YOUR INNER BODY AS A PORTAL THROUGH WHICH YOU ENTER THE UNMANIFESTED, AND KEEP THAT PORTAL OPEN SO THAT YOU STAY CONNECTED WITH THE SOURCE, AT ALL TIMES, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE, AS FAR AS THE INNER BODY IS CONCERNED, WHETHER YOUR OUTER PHYSICAL BODY IS OLD OR YOUNG, FRAIL OR STRONG,THE INNER BODY IS TIMELESS. IF YOU ARE NOT YET ABLE TO FEEL THE INNER BODY, USE ONE OF THE OTHER PORTALS, ALTHOUGH ULTIMATELY THEY ARE ALL ONE. SOME I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT AT LENGTH ALREADY, BUT I'LL MENTION THEM AGAIN BRIEFLY HERE.

 

YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

                                  MAN INCOMPLETE WITHOUT WOMAN

           WHEN ONE IS FULLY CONSCIOUS, WOULD ONE STILL HAVED A NEED FOR A RELATIONSHIP? WOULD A MAN STILL FEEL DOWN TO A WOMAN? WOULD A WOMAN STILL FEEL INCOMPLETE WITHOUT A MAN?

       ENLIGHTENED OR NOT, YOU ARE EITHER A MAN OR A WOMAN, SO ON THE LEVEL OF YOUR FORM IDENTITY YOU ARE NOT COMPLETE. YOU ARE ONE-HALF OF THE WHOLE. THIS INCOMPLETENESS IS FELT AS MALE-FEMALE ATTRACTION, THE PULL THE OPPOSITE ENERGY POLARITY, NO MATTER HOW CONSCIOUS YOU ARE. BUT IN THAT STATE OF INNER CONNECTEDNESS, YOU FEEL THIS PULL SOMEWHERE ON THE SURFACE OR PERIPHERY OF YOUR LIFE. ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO YOU IN THAT STATE FEELS SOMEWHAT LIKE THAT. THE WHOLE WORLD SEEMS LIKE WAVES OR RIPPLES ON THE SURFACE OF A VAST AND DEEP OCEAN. YOU ARE THAT OCEAN AND, OF COURSE, YOU ARE ALSO A RIPPLE, BUT A RIPPLE THAT HAS REALIZED ITS TRUE IDENTITY AS THE OCEAN, AND COMPARED TO THAT VASTNESS AND DEPTH, THE WORLD OF WAVES AND RIPPLES IS NOT ALL THAT IMPORTANT.

          THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU DON'T RELATE DEEPLY TO OTHER PEOPLE OR TO YOUR PARTNER. INFACT, YOU CAN RELATE DEEPLY ONLY IF YOU ARE CONSCIOUS OF BEING. COMING FROM BEING, YOU ARE ABLE TO FOCUS BEYONG THE VEIL OF FORM. IN BEING, MALE AND FEMALE ARE ONE. YOUR FORM MAY CONTINUE TO HAVE CERTAIN NEEDS, BUT BEING HAS NONE. IT IS ALREADY COMPLETE AND WHOLE. IF THOSE NEEDS ARE MET, THAT IS BEATIFUL, BUT WHATEVER OR NOT THEY ARE MET MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO YOUR DEEP INNER STATE. SO IT IS PERFECTLY POSSIBLE FOR AN ENLIGHTENED PERSON, IF THE NEED FOR THE MALE OF FEMALE POLARITY FOR AN ENLIGHTENED PERSON, IF THE NEED FOR THE MALE OR FEMALE PALARITY IS NOT MET, TO FEEL A SENSE OF LACK OR INCOMPLETENESS ON THE OUTER LEVEL OF HIS OR HER BEING, YET AT THE SAME TIME BE TOTALLY COMPLETE, FULFILLED AND AT PEACE WITHIN.

                IN THE QUEST FOR ENLITHHTENMENT, IS BEING GAY A HELP OR A HINDRANCE, OR DOES IS NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?

             AS YOU APPROACH ADULTHOOD, UNCERTAINLY ABOUT YOUR SEXUALITY FOLLOWED BY THE REALIZATION THAT YOU ARE "DIFFERENT" FROM OTHERS MAY FORCE YOU TO DISIDENTIFY FROM SOCIALLY CONDITIONED PATTERNS OF THOUGH AND BEHAVIOUR. THIS WILL AUTOMATICALLY RAISE YOUR LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS ABOVE THAT OF THE UNCONCIOUS MAJORITY, WHOSE MEMBERS UNQUESTIONINGLY TAKE ON BOARD ALL INHERITED PATTERNS. IN THAT RESPECT, BEING GAY CAN BE A HELP. BEING AN OUTSIDER TO SOME EXTENT, SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT "FIT IN" WITH OTHERS OR IS REJECTED BY THEM FOR WHATEVER REASON, MAKES LIFE DIFFICULT, BUT IT ALSO PLACES YOU AT AN ADVANTAGE AS FAR AS ENLIGHTENMENT IS CONNECTED. IT TAKES YOU OUT OF UNCOUSNESS ALMOST BY FORCE.

                 ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU THEN DEVELOP A SENSE O IDENTITY BASED ON YOUR GAYNESS, YOU HAVE ESCAPED ONE TRAP ONLY TO FALL INTO ANOTHER. YOU WILL PLAY ROLES AND GAMES DICTATED BY A MENTAL IMAGE YOU HAVE OF YOURSELF AS GAY. YOU WILL BECOME UNCONSCIOUS. YOU WILL BECOME UNREAL. UNDERNEATH YOUR EGO MASK YOU WILL HAVE BECOME A HINDRANCE.BUT YOU ALWAYS GET ANOTHER CHANCE, OF COURSE. ACUTE UNHAPPINESS CAN BE A GREAT AWAKENER.

           IS IT NOT TRUE THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF AND LOVE YOURSELF YOU CAN HAVE A FULFILLING RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER PERSON?

          IF YOU CANNOT BE AT EASE WITH YOURSELF WHEN YOU ARE ALONE, YOU WILL SEEK A RELATIONSHIP TO COVER UP YOUR UNEASE. YOU CAN BE SURE THAT THE UNEASE WILL THEN REAPPEAR IN SOME OTHER FORM WIHTIN THE RELATIONSHIP,  AND YOU WILL PROBABLY HOLD YOUR PARTNER RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. 

         ALL YOU REALLY NEED TO DO IS ACCEPT THIS MOMENT FULLY. YOU ARE THEN AT EASE IN THE HERE AND NOW AND AT EASE WITH YOURSELF.

         BUT DO YOU NEED TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF AT ALL? WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BE YOURSELF? WHEN YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF, YOU HAVE SPLIT YOURSELF INTO TWO. "I" AND "MYSELF" SUBJECT AND OBJECT. THAT MIND-CREATED DUALITY IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF ALL UNNECCESSARY COMPLEXITY, OF ALL PROBLEMS AND CONFLICT IN YOUR LIFE. IN THE STATE OF ENLIGHTENMENT, YOU ARE YOURSELF-"YOU" AND "YOURSELF" MERGE INTO ONE. YOU DO NOT JUDGE YOURSELF, YOU DO NOT FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF, YOU ARE NOT PROUD OF YOURSELF, YOU DO NOT LOVE YOURSELF, YOU DO NOT HATE YOURSELF, AND SO ON. THE SPLIT CAUSED BY SELF-REFLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS IS HEALED, ITS CURSE REMOVED. THERE IS NO "SELF" THAT YOU NEED TO PROTECT, DEFEND, OR FEED ANYMORE. WHEN YOU ARE ENLIGHTENED, THERE IS ONE RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU NO LONGER HAVE, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF. ONCE YOU HAVE GIVEN THAT UP, ALL YOUR OTHER RELATIONSHIPS WILL BE LOVE RELATIONSHIPS.

 

THOUGHTS WE HAVE EVERYDAY

                                                      GOOD THOUGHTS.....

  

        RESTRAINT IN THE EYE IS GOOD, GOOD IS RESTRAINT IN THE EAR, IN THE NOSE RESTAINT IN GOOD, GOOD IS RESTRAINT IN THE TONGUE. IN THE BODY RESTRAINT IS GOOD, GOOD IS RESTRAINT IN SPEECH, IN THOUGHT RESTRAINT IS GOOD, GOOD IS RESTRAINT IN ALL THINGS. A BHIKSHU, RESTRAINED IN ALL THINGS, IS FREED FORM ALL PAIN.

        HE WHO CONTROLS HIS HAND, HE WHO CONTROLS HIS FEET, HE WHO CONTROLS HIS SPEECH, HE WHO IS WELL CONTROLLED, HE WHO DELIGHT INWARDLY, WHO IS COLLECTED, WHO IS SOLITARY AND CONTENT, HIM THEY CALL BHIKSHU . THE BHIKSHU WHO CONTROLS HIS MOUTH, WHO SPEAKS WISELY AND CALMLY, WHO TEACHES THE MEANING AND THE LAW, HIS WORD IS SWEET. HE WHO DWELLS IN THE LAW, DELIGHTS IN NEVER FALL AWAY FROM THE TRUE LAW, RECOLLECTS THE LAW, THAT BHIKSHU WILL NEVER FALL AWAY FROM THE TRUE LAW. LET HIM NOT DESPISE WHAT HE HAS RECEIVED, NOR EVER ENVY OTHERS A MEDICANT WHO ENVIES OTHERS DOES NOT OBTAIN PEACE OF MIND.

        A BHIKSHU WHO, THOUGHT HE RECEIVES LITTLE, DOES NOT DESPISE WHAT HE HAS RECEIVED EVEN THE GODS WILL PRAISE HIM, IFHIS LIFE IS PURE, AND IF HE IS NOT SLOTHFUL. HE WHO NEVER IDENTIFIED HIMSELF WITH NAME AND FORM, AND DOES NOT GRIEVE OVER WHAT IS NO MORE, HE INDEED IS CALLED A BHIKSHU. THE BHIKSHU WHO BEHAVES  WITH KINDNESS, WHO IS HAPPY IN THE DOCTRINE OF BUDDHA, WILL REACH THE QUIET PLACE(NIRVANA) HAPPINESS ARRISING FROM THE CESSATION OF NATURAL INCLINATIONS.

            O BHIKSHU, EMPTY THIS BOAT!IF EMPTIED, IT WILL GO QUICKLY, HAVING CUT OFF PASSION AND HATRED, THOU WILT GO TO NIRVANA. CUT OFF THE FIVE FETTERS, LEAVE THE FIVE, RISE ABOVE THE FIVE. A BHIKSHU, WHO HAS ESCAPTED FROM THE FIVE FETTERS, HE IS CALLED OGHATINNA-SAVED FROM THE FLOOD. MEDITATE, O BHIKSHU AND BE NOT HEEDLESS! DO NOT DIRECT THY THOUGHT TO WHAT GIVES PLEASURE, THAT THOU MAYEST NOT FOR THY HEEDLESSNESS HAVE TO SWALLOW THE IRON BALL IN HELL, AND THAT THOU MAYEST NOT CRY OUT WHEN  BURNING "THIS IS PAIN".

          WITHOUT WHO HAS ENTERED HIS EMPTY HOUSE, AND WHOSE MIND IS TRANSQUIL, FEEL A MORE THAN HUMAN DELIGHT WHEN HE SEES THE LAW CLEARLY. AS SOON AS HE HAS CONSIDERED THE ORIGIN AND DESTRUCTION OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE BODY, HE FINDS HAPPINESS AND JOY WHICH BELONG TO THOSE WHO KNOW THE IMMORTAL (NIRVANA). AND THIS IS THE BEGINNING HERE FOR A WISE BHIKSHU, WATCHFULLNESS OVER THE SENSES, CONTENTEDNESS, RESTRAINT UNDER THE LAW, KEEP NOBLE FRIENDS WHOSE LIFE IS PURE , AND WHO ARE NOT SLOTHFUL. LET HIM LIVE IN CHARITY, LET HIM BE PERFECT IN HIS DUTIES, THEN IN THE FULNESS OF DELIGHT HE WILL MAKE AN END OF SUFFERING.

               AS THE VASSIKA PLAND SHEDS ITS WITHERED FLOWERS, MEN SHOULD SHED PASSION THE HATRED, O YE BHIKSHUS!. THE BHIKSHU WHOSE BODY AND TONGUE AND MIND ARE QUIETED WHO IS COLLECTED, AND HAS REJECTED THE BAITS OF THE WORLD. HE IS CALLED QUIET. ROUSE THYSELF BY THYSELF, EXAMINE THYSELF BY THYSELF, THEREFORE CURB THYSELF AS THE MERCHANT CURBS A NOBLE HORSE.

              THE BHIKSHU FULL OF DELIGHT WHO IS HAPPY IN THE DOCTRINE OF BUDDHA WILL REACH THE QUIET PLACE(NIRVANA)  HAPPINESS CONSISTING IN ALL THE CESSATION OF NATURAL INCLINATIONS. HE WHO EVEN AS A YOUNG BHIKSHU, HIMSELF TO THE DOCTRINE OF BUDDHA, BRIGHTENS UP THIS WORLD, LIKE THE MOON WHEN FREE FROM CLOUDS.

                                                          HAPPINESS

             WE LIVE HAPPILY INDEED , NOT HATING THOSE WHO HATE US! AMONG MEN WHO HATE US WE DWELL FREE FROM HATRED!. WE LIVE HAPPILY INDEED, FREE FROM AILMENTS AMONG THE AILING! AMOUNT MEN WHO ARE AILING LET US DWELL FREE FROM AILMENTS! WE LIVE HAPPILY INDEED, FREE FROM GREED AMONG THE GREEDY! AMONG MEN WHO ARE GREEDY LET US DWELL FREE FROM GREED! WE LIVE HAPPILY  INDEED, THOUGH WE CALL NOTHING OUR OWN! WE SHALL BE LIKE THE BRIGHT GODS, FEEDING ON HAPPINESS! VICTORY BREEDS HATRED, FOR THE CONQUERED IS UNHAPPY. HE WHO HAS GIVEN UP BOTH VICTORY AND DEFEAT, HE, THE CONTENED IS HAPPY. THERE IS NO FIRE LIKE PASSION. THERE IS NO LOSING THROW LIKE HATRED, THERE IS NO PAIN LIKE THIS BODY, THERE IS NO HAPPINESS HIGHER THAN REST.

              HUNGER IS THE WORST OF DISEASE, THE ELEMENTS OF THE BODY THE GREATEST EVIL, IF ONE KNOWS THIS TRULY, THAT IS NIRVANA, THE HIGHEST HAPPINESS. HEALTH IS THE GREATEST OF GIFTS, CONTENTEDNESS THE BEST RICHES TRUST IS THE BEST OF RELATIONSHIPS, NIRVANA THE HIGHEST HAPPINESS.

           HE WHO HAS TASTED THE SWEETNESS OF SOLITUDE AND TRANQUILLITY, IS FREE FROM FEAR AND FREE FROM SIN, WHILE HE TASTES THE SWEETNESS OF DRINKING IN THE LAW. THE SIGHT OF THE ELECT (ARIYA) IS GOOD, TO LIVE WITH THEM IS ALWAYS HAPPINESS, IF A MAN DOES NOT SEE FOOLS, HE WILL BE TRULY HAPPY. HE WHO WALKS IN THE COMPANY OF FOOLS SUFFERS A LONG WAY., COMPANY WUTH FOOLS AS WITH AN ENEMY, IS ALWAYS PAIFUL, COMPANY WITH THE WISE IS PLEASURE, LIKE MEETING WITH KINSFOLK.

            THEREFORE, ONE OUGHT TO FOLLOW THE WISE, THE INTELLIGENT, THE LEARNED, THE MUCH ENDURING, THE DUTIFUL, THE ELECT, ONE OUGHT TO FOLLOW SUCH A GOOD AND WISE MAN, AS THE MOON FOLLOWS THE PATH OF THE STARS.

WHEN OUR SOUL MEET THE GOD

                                                      BODY SOUL TO GOD

              DHARANA IS HOLDING THE MIND ON TO SOME PARTICULAR OBJECT, DHARANA (CONCENTRATION) IS WHEN THE MIND HOLDS ON TO SOME OBJECT, EITHER IN THE BODY, OR OUTSIDE THE BODY, AND KEEP ITSELF IN THAT STATE. AN UNBROKEN FLOW OF KNOWLEDGE TO THAT OBJECT IS DHYANA. THE MIND TRIES TO THINK OF ONE OBJECT, TO HOLD ITSELF TO ONE PARTICULAR SPOT, AS THE TOP OF THE HEAD, TO HOLD ITSELF TO ONE PARTICULAR SPOT, AS THE TOP OF THE HEAD, THE HEART, ETC., AND IF THE MIND SUCCEEDS IN RECEIVING THE SENSATIONS ONLY THROUGH THAT PART OF THE BODY, THE THROUGH NO OTHER PART, THAT WOULD BE DHARANA, AND WHEN THE MIND SUCCEEDS IN KEEPING ITSELF IN THAT STATE FOR SOME TIME IT IS CALLED DHYANA(MEDITATION).

               WHEN THAT, GIVING UP ALL FORMS, REFLECT ONLY THE MEANING, IT IS SAMADHI.

             THAT IS, WHEN IN MEDITATION ALL FORMS ARE GIVEN UP, SOPPOSE I WERE MEDITATING ON A BOOK, AND THAT I HAVE GRADUALLY SUCCEEDED IN CONCENTRATING THE MIND ON IT, AND PERCEIVING ONLY THE INTERNAL SENSATIONS, THE MEANING, UNEXPRESSED IN ANY FORM, THAT STATE OF DHYANA IS CALLED SAMADHI.

           (THESE) THREE (WHEN PRACTISED) IN REGARD TO ONE OBJECT IS SAMYAMA.

            WHEN A MAN CAN DIRECT HIS MIND TO ANY PARTICULAR OBJECT AND FIX IT THERE, AND THEN KEEP IT THERE FOR A LONG TIME, SEPARATING THE OBJECT FROM THE INTERNAL PART, THIS IS SAMYAMA, OR DHARANA, DHYANA, AND SAMADHI, ONE FOLLOWING THE OTHER, AND MAKING ONE. THE FORM OF THE THING HAS VANISHED, AND ONLY ITS MEANING REMAINS IN THE MIND.

            BY THE CONQUEST OF THAT COMES LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE.

         WHEN ONE HAS SUCCEEDED IN MAKING THIS SAMYAMA, ALL POWERS COME UNDER HIS CONTROL. THIS IS THE GREAT INSTRUMENT OF THE YOGI. THE OBJECT OF KNOWLEDGE IS INFINITE, AND THEY ARE DIVIDED INTO THE GROSS, GROSSER, GROSSEST, AND THE FINE, FINER, FINEST, AND SO ON. THIS SAMYAMA SHOULD BE FIRST APPLIED TO GROSS THINGS, WHEN YOU BEGIN TO GET KNOWLEDGE OF THE GROSS, SLOWLY, BY STAGES, IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO FINER THINGS.

         THAT SHOULD BE EMPLOYED IN STAGES. THIS IS A NOTE OF WARNING NOT TO ATTEMPT TO GO TOO FAST.

        THESE THREE ARE NEARER THAN THOSE THAT PRECEDE.

     BEFORE THESE WE, HAD THE PRANAYAMA, THE ASANA, THE YAMA AND NIYAMA, THESE ARE EXTERNAL PARTS OF THESE THREE DHARANA, DHYANA, AND SAMADHI. YET THESE LATTER EVEN ARE EXTERNAL TO THE SEEDLESS SAMADHI. WHEN A MAN HAS ATTAINED TO THEM HE MAY ATTAIN TO OMNISCIENCE AND OMNIPRESENCE, BUT THAT WOULD NOT BE SALVATION. THESE THREE WOULD NOT MAKE THE MIND NIRVIKALPA, CHANGELESS, BUT WOULD LEAVE THE SEEDS FOR GETTING BODIES AGAIN, ONLY WHEN THE SEEDS ARE, AS THE YOGI SAYS, FRIED, DO THEY LOSE THE POSSIBILITY OF PRODUCING FURTHER PLANTS. THESE POWERS CANNOT FRY THE SEED.

      BUT EVEN THEY ARE EXTERNAL TO THE SEEDLESS (SAMADHI)

    COMPARED WITH THAT SEEDLESS SAMADHI, THEREFORE, EVEN THESE ARE EXTERNAL. WE HAVE NOT YET REACHED THE REAL SAMADHI, THE HIGHEST, BUT TO A LOWER STAGE, IN WHICH THIS UNIVERSE STILL EXISTS AS WE SEE IT, AND IN WHICH ARE ALL THSE POWERS.

             BY THE SUPPRESSION OF THE DISTURBED MODIFICATIONS OF THE MIND, AND BY THE RISE OF MODIFICATIONS OF CONTROL, THE MIND IS SAID TO ATTAIN THE CONTROLLING MODIFICATIONS-FOLLOWING THE CONTROLLING POWERS OF THE MIND.

          THAT IS TO SAY, IN THIS FIRST STATE OF SAMADHI, THE MODIFICATIONS OF THE MIND HAVE BEEN CONTROLLED, BUT NOT PERFECTLY, BECAUSE IF THEY WERE, THERE WOULD BE NO MODIFICATIONS. IF THERE IS A MODIFICATION WHICH IMPELS THE MIND TO RUSH OUT THROUGH THE SENSES, AND THE YOGI TRIES TO CONTROL, IT THAT VERY CONTROL ITSELF WILL BE A MODIFICATION. ONE WAVE WILL BE CHECKED BY ANOTHER WAVE, SO IT WILL NOT BE REAL SAMADHI, WHEN ALL THE WAVES HAVE SUBSIDED, AS CONTROL ITSELF WILL BE A WAVE. YET THIS LOWER SAMADHI IS VERY MUCH NEARER TO THE HIGHER SAMADHI THAN WHEN THE MIND COMES BUBBLING OUT.

            ITS FLOW BECOMES STEADY BY HAPPIT.

     THE FLOW OF THIS CONTINUOUS CONTROL OF THE MIND BECOMES STEADY WHEN PRACTICED DAY AFTER DAY AND THE MIND OBTAINS THE FACULTY OF CONSTANT CONCENTRATION.

TAKING IN ALL SORTS OF OBJECTS AND CONCENTRATION UPON ONE OBJECT, THESE TWO POWERS BEING DESTROYED AND MANIFESTED RESPECTIVELY, THE CHITTA GETS THE MODIFICATION CALLED SAMADHI.

THE MIND IS TAKING UP VARIOUS OBJECTS, RUNNING INT ALL SORTS OF THINGS AND THEN THERE IS A HIGHER STATE OF THE MIND, WHEN IT TAKES UP ONE OBJECT AND EXCLUDES ALL OTHERS. SAMADHI IS THE RESULT OF THAT.

THE ONE-POINTEDNESS OF THE CHITTA IS WHEN IT GRASPS IN ONE, THE PAST AND PRESENT. 

HOW ARE WE TO KNOW THAT THE MIND HAS BECOME CONCENTRATED? BECAUSE TIME WILL VANISH. THE MORE TIME VANISHES, THE MORE CONCENTRATED WE ARE. IN COMMON LIFE WE SEE THAT WHEN WE ARE INTERESTED IN A BOOK WE DO NOT NOTE THE TIME AT ALL, AND WHEN A LEAVE THE BOOK WE ARE OFTEN SURPRISED TO FIND HOW MANY HAVE PASSED. ALL TIME WILL HAVE THE TENDENCY TO COME AND STAND IN THE ONE PRESENT. SO THE DEFINITION IS GIVEN, WHEN THE PAST AND PRESENT COME AND STAND IN ONE, THE MORE CONCENTRATED THE MIND.

EARNESTNESS AND THOUGHTLESSNESS

                                              NIRVANA AND THE DEATH

                  EARNESTNESS IS THE PATH OF IMMORTALITY(NIRVANA), THOUGHTLESSNESS THE PATH OF DEATH. THOSE WHO ARE IN EARNEST DO NOT DIE, THOSE WHO ARE THOUGHTLESSNESS ARE AS IF DEAD ALREADY. HAVING UNDERSTOOD THIS CLEARLY, THOSE WHO ARE ADVANCED IN EARNESTNESS DELIGHT IN EARNESTNESS, AND REJOICE IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ELECT. THESE WISE PEOPLE, MEDITATIVE, STEADY, ALWAYS POSSESSED OF STRONG POWERS, ATTAIN TO NIRVANA, THE HIGHEST HAPPINESS. IF AN EARNEST PERSON HAS ROUSED HIMSELF, IF HE IS NOT FORGETFUL, IF HIS DEEDS ARE PURE, IF HE ACTS WITH CONSIDERATION, IF HE IS RESTRAINS HIMSELF, AND LIVES ACCORDING TO LAW- THEN HIS GLORY WILL INCREASE. 

                 BY ROUSING HIMSELF, BY EARNESTNESS BY RESTRAINT AND CONTROL, THE WSE MAN MAY MAKE FOR HIMSELF, AN ISLAND WHICH NO FLOOD CAN OVERWHELM. FOOLS FOLLOW AFTER VANITY. THE WISE MAN KEEPS EARNESTNESS AS HIS BEST JEWEL. FOLLOW NOT AFTER VANITY, NOR AFTER THE ENJOYMENT OF LOVE AND LUST! HE WHO  IS EARNEST AND MEDITATIVE, OBTAINS AMPLE JOY. WHEN THE LEARNED MAN DRIVES AWAY VANITY BY EARNESTNESS, HE THE WISE, CLIMBING THE TERRACED HEIGHTS OF WISDOM, LOOKS DOWN UPON THE FOOLS, FREE FROM SORROW HE LOOKS UPON THE SORROWING CROWD, AS ONE THAT STANDS ON A MOUNTAIN LOOKS DOWN UPON THEM THAT STAND UPON THE PLAIN.
            EARNEST AMONG THE THOUGHLESS, AWAKE AMONG THE SLEEPERS, THE WISE MAN ADVANCES LIKE A RACER. LEAVING BEHIND THE HACK. BY EARNESTNESS DID MAGHAVAN (INDRA) RISE TO THE LORDSHIP OF THE GODS. PEOPLE PRAISE EARNESTNESS, THOUGHTLESSNESS IS ALWAYS BLAMED.

              A BHIKSHU(MENDICANT) WHO DELIGHTS IN EARNESTNESS, WHO LOOKS WITH FEAR ON THOUGHTLESSNESS, MOVES ABOUT LIKE FIRE, BURNING ALL HIS FETTERS, SMALL OR LARGE. A BHIKSHU(MENDICANT) WHO DELIGHTS IN REFLECTION, WHO LOOKS WITH FEAR ON THOUGHTLESSNESS, CANNOT FALL AWAY FROM HIS PERFECT STATE-HE IS CLOSE UPON NIRVANA.

                                                                      FLOWERS

                      WHO SHALL OVERCOME THIS EARTH, AND THE WORLD OF YAMA, THE LORD OF THE DEPARTED, AND THE WORLD OF THE GODS? WHO SHALL FIND OUT THE PLAINLY SHOWN PATH OF VIRTUE, AS A CLEVER MAN FINDS THE RIGHT FLOWER? THE DISCIPLINE WILL OVERCOME THE EARTH, AND THE WORLD OF YAMA, AND THE WORLD OF THE GODS. THE DISCIPLINE WILL FIND OUT THE PLAINLY SHOWN PATH OF VIRTUE, ASA CLEVER MAN FINDS THE RIGHT FLOWER. HE WHO KNOWS THAT THIS BODY IS LIKE FROTH, AND HAS LEARNT THAT IT IS AS UNSUBTANTIAL AS A MIRAGE, WILL BREAK THE FLOWER-POINTED ARROW OF MARA AND NEVER SEETHE KING OF DEATH.

                  DEATH CARRIES OFF A MAN WHO IS GATHERING FLOWER, AND WHOSE MIND IS DISTRACTED, AS A FLOOD CARRIES OFF A SLEEPING VILLAGE. DEATH SUBDUES A MAN WHO IS GETHERING FLOWERS, AND WHOSE MIND IS DISTRACTED, BEFORE HE IS SATIATED IN HIS PLEASURE. AS THE BEE COLLECTS NECTAR AND DEPARTS WITHOUT INJURING THE FLOWER, OR ITS COLOR OR SCENT, SO LET A SAGE DWELL IN HIS VILLAGE.

                 NOT THE PERVERSITIES OF OTHERS, NOT THEIR SINS OF COMMISSION OR OMISSION, BUT HIS OWN MISDEEDS AND NEGLIGENCES SHOULD A SAGE TAKE NOTICE OF.  LIKE A BEAUTIFUL FLOWER, FULL OF COLOR, BUT WITHOUT SCENT, ARE THE FINE BUT FRUITLESS WORDS OF HIM WHO DOES NOT ACT ACCORDINGLY. AS MANY KINDS OF WREATHS CAN BE MADE FROM A HEAP OF FLOWERS, SO MANY GOOD THINGS MAY BE ACHIEVED BY A MORTAL WHEN ONCE HE IS HORN. THE SCENT OF FLOWERS DOES NOT TRAVEL AGAINST THE WIND, NOR THAT OF SANDAL-WOOD, OR OF TAGARA AND MALLIKA FLOWERS, BUT THE ODOR OF GOOD PEOPLE TRAVELS EVEN AGAINST THE WIND, A GOOD MAN PERVADES EVERY PLACE. SANDAL-WOOD OR TAGARA, A LOTUS-FLOWER, OR A VASSIKI, AMONG THESE SORTS OF PERFUMES, THE PERFUME OF VIRTUE IS UNSURPASSED. 

                 

               MEAN IS THE SCENT THAT COMES FROM TAGARA AND SANDAL-WOOD THE PERFUME OF THOSE WHO POSSESS VIRTUE RISES UP TO THE GODS AS THE HIGHEST. OF THE PEOPLE WHO PASSES THESE VIRTUES, WHO LIVE WITHOUT THOUGHTLESSNESS, AND WHO ARE EMANCIPATED THROUGH TRUE KNOWLEDGE, MARA, THE TEMPTER, NEVER FINDS THE WAY. AS ON A HEAP OF RUBBISH CAST UPON THE HIGHWAY THE LILY WILL GROW FULL OF SWEET PERFUME AND DELIGHT, THUS AMONG THOSE WHO ARE MERE RUBBISH THE DISCIPLE OF THE TRULY ENLIGHTENED BUDDHA SHINES FORTH BY HIS KNOWLEDGE ABOVE THE BLINDED WORLDLING.