STORY OF GANDHI

In the same Kosala State, once upon a time there lived a bramhin near Sarayu
river. He was well versed in all the knowledge. He was peaceful, silent, introvert
and contemplative. He was faraway from what is going on in the world.
Once he decided to meditate for a long time. He found a most beautiful spot.
Lotuses and lilies bloomed and spread perfume all day and all night, black deers
roamed, and peacocks danced. He made a deluxe cottage, sowed vines and bushes
all around and sat in deep meditation. Eight years passed. Lord Visnu appeared and
asked, "Varambruhi. Please ask whatever you wish for."

"My Lord, I just wanted to see you. Oh, you are so beautiful."
"That is correct but ask for anything."
"Evamastu -- so be it." He said and vanished.
A long time passed happily. One day at the end of taking a bath in the river he
was chanting aghamarsan (sin absolving) mantras while still standing in navel deep
water.

Suddenly his mind slipped and he saw clearly exactly as in the waking state in
his home. Then he saw he just died. Family members are crying, his corpse is
decomposing. His mother is holding his dead body until all kinsmen arrived. They
gathered like birds and carried it to the cemetery, placed it on the pyre and set
fire. It burned into ashes. They came back to the home.

Then he saw himself entering in the womb of a corpse-eater chandali (a special
tribe who eat corpses as part of taking charge of keeping the streets clean) like a
worm. In ten months he came out as a ripened fruit from the tree. He grew up as
a tree grows. He was handsome. His mother loved him as did all the family. He
became sixteen years old. He would take a group of his dogs and go to the forest
for hunting, killing deers, birds and other animals. He was married and many kids
were born.

Suddenly a famine spread and all began dying. His wife, his kids all died, so he
left the village and walked and walked. He reached a State called Krant desha
where the king had just died leaving no son. As a custom an elephant with a garland
was released among all people, of the city and from abroad. The elephant moved
around with his trunk lifted up holding the most valuable garland. As soon as he
saw him he placed the garland on his neck and lifting him up by his trunk set him on
his back. The crowd rejoiced, and soon he was coronated. He concealed his caste.
He married with a beautiful wife, and began living like a king. Adorned with
innumerable valuable gems, pearls and diamonds, golden ornaments and silk suits he
enjoyed life for eight years. Once, surrounded by his friends, kinsmen and a small
army, he was going for hunting. On his way he came close to a colony of chandalas.
One of the chandalas recognized him. He also had left during the famine.

"Oh dear brother, how are you? I knew your talent of singing songs will attract
great wealth one day. Where are you now -- has the king hired you for his
musician?" He embraced him and requested him to visit his home.
King wanted him to get lost but he was overwhelmed with emotion. He didn't
leave, and everybody knew he was a chandala. They lamented, "Oh, they lost the
purity of their caste." The news spread all around. When the king returned to his
palace people ran away. Priests looked into the scriptures and couldn't find any
remedy for the sin of associating and dining with a chandala.

At last a huge fire was set in the middle of the city and like moths all the royal
family -- men, women, all began entering into the fire. His most beloved queen
lamenting seriously entered the fire. King saw and felt ashamed, humiliated and
heartbroken. He too came to the fire and jumped into the burning flame. When
the king felt the burning pain the body of the bramhin Gandhi shook which was still
in the water -- standing navel deep reciting the mantra. It was only twelve minutes
that passed. He completed the oblution. But his heart kept wondering.
Whatever he saw was so clear that he became puzzled and confused. He kept
thinking of the vow -- what a terrible stand did I witness. He came to his
hermitage and lived there a few days when he decided to go to his home and check
it out. But then a bramhin guest came from faraway. He hosted him for many
days. He was so lean and thin. He brought herbs, roots and fruits that can serve
as tonic for his weakness. One night he asked, "Why are you so weak?"

"Because I reduce one morsel of my meals each passing day in dark fortnight.
On the 15th I observe total fast. From the next day I increase one by one morsel
till fifteen days. This I have done as a twelve krichra chandrayan fast."
"Sir, but that is done as confession to one's severe sin?" Gandhi asked.
"Yes, I did one. Not just one, hundreds of them. In fact I stayed in Kranta
State, I didn't know the king was a chandala. It was only the last day it was
revealed when a huge fire was set in midtown and all bramhins and ksatriyas
entered the fire. I was out of the city boundary so I didn't enter the fire but still
I needed to clean myself."

Gandhi was struck with wonder. After the guest left he decided to visit the
place by himself. He walked. Like a camel looking for thorns reaches into the jungle of thorns he
arrived at that village of chandalas. To his surprise he saw the place where he
used to come daily to work in the field when he grew young. He saw creepers and
trees he had planted. Some are dead, leafless, still standing, others still green
with flowers. Animals he had killed and placed their skeletons on certain treetops
he saw them too.

Then he entered the chandala village near his home. It was so dirty, so stinking,
nauseatic, vomiting -- stink of dead animals, stink of leather being cooked, stink of
bones being cooked to make glue, lipstick, candles, glycerin etc. There he used to
play with other dirty, stinking boys. Some of them are still around. Now they are
old with white hair, broken teeth, rest of them yellow, rotten; their bodies smelly,
clothes sweaty. Children defecated nearby. He also saw the pub where he used to
drink wine. There it was he was married with another ugly, stinky, harsh-toned
woman whose only quality was to produce babies and babysit them. Seeing all these
he was shocked and great dispassion arose.

He met a few persons and asked, "Do you remember here was a chandala with a
large black body who used to sing?"

"Oh yes, his name was Kantakjal (thorny water). He was born here, we played
together. Never went to school. ------------

"Just like the crow keeps on uttering harsh words eating left over impure food
stuff, same way mind sitting in the unclean home of this flesh, blood and bone
infested body keeps on running after anti-Self realisational substances like
sensational objects. Never is it quiet. Due to evil urges it is black like the crow.
As the crow has only one eye on each side of it's head, the mind is also only an
imitation of this limited vision as well because it rushes around looking for ways to
get sense objects.

"As to this inauspicious crow, Prince Rama, shoot it down by the pistol of pious
thinking.

"Mind is a vulture. To get flesh of sensual joy it hovers all around. Wherever it
sees hot dog of ego it jumps down and grabs. Better shoot it by the bullet of
discretion.

"Mind is lika a ghost. As a ghost possessed, haunted man talks meaningless and
suffers for no reason, similarly people of the world are suffering. Every one is
possessed and obsessed by both -- mind, the Mr. Ghost, and hankering, the Mrs.
Ghost. This Mr. and Mrs. Ghost can only be exorcised by mantra of dispassion.
Get them out. Kick out all these little apparition, goblins and vampires which
provoke identification with anything else other than the Self. Got to do that.

"Mind is like a monkey. The one which is very restless. Monkey sits on one
treetop, then it jumps onto another. You have to tame it. Wisely allure him for
spiritual gifts. Allure him, if he follows certain descipline, he can be allowed one
nonharmful sense gratification. Thus make him change his habit.
"Mind is like a rope, like a fetter. The whole world is chained up with the hard
knots of doer, action and their binding impressions. As there are innumerable
slaves tied in one rope so also all people are tied with one cosmic mind. To that
thick heavy rope, please cut through with the knife of disassociation and
detachment.

"Prince, this mind is a python. It is full of poison of hankering for sense
gratification. And with its horrifying hiss and sting it has burned down the most
beautiful lotuses of shama (mental control), dama (sense control) and dhairya
(patience). No one can kill this wicked python unless the discretion eagle arises in
the sky of your life. When this python is dead you become enlightened.
It cannot be destroyed by weapons of suffering fortune and death fire. It
disappears only by association of saints and study of scriptures.

"This mind is a cloud. Hankering lightening illumines. Wherever it rains it
destroys the harvest of wisdom and lotuses of sense and mental disciplines. By the
mantra of auspicious search for Truth it disperses.

"Rama, through the weapon of mind pierce the mind and drop both of them.
Function through intuition, then through consciousness itself."

THE STORY OF PRALHAD

Among King Bali's ancestors, Hiranyakasupu was extremely powerful. The mystery
of his power was his immense austerity. He had gone to Mount Mandar
and stood on his one foot on his toe. Raising his hand up, staring at the sky, he
meditated. By the power of his immense concentration, fire and smoke rose and
spread from his head. It began scorching all directions. Rivers and the ocean
began to boil. Earth and mountains began to shake. Planets and stars began to
break and fall like fruit from the tree. Heat of very hot air spread all over the
world. Planet Svah was scorched. They hurried to Bramhaa ji. He consoled them
and himself came to Hiranya's hermitage. Bhrigu, Daksa and others too, joined
him. They couldn't see him. All there was was clay, worms, grass and bamboo
shoots which had covered him. Ants had eaten all his flesh, drank up all his blood.
Only a skeleton was left, but still by his power he was scorching the whole world.
Bramhaa ji sprinkled holy water from his golden kamandalu, then as if fire would
have lit up from trash and drain, he stood up all fresh, young with a golden rocklike
body, very handsome and elegant. He bowed down and eulogized with heartfelt
psalms of Samaveda.

"Varambruhi -- ask for benediction." Pleased, Bramhaa ji said at last.
"Give me, O Lord, immortality." He asked.
"Everyone who is born has to die some day." Bramhaa ji said.
"Okay, then let me not die by anyone from your creation. No man, no woman, no
animal, no god, no cobra. Neither in day nor night, nor inside nor outside, nor by
weapon, nor on earth nor in the sky. Give me all prosperity and power of the whole
world."

"Evamastu -- so be it." He said and disappeared.

He came back, reinhabited his city which was smashed and ruined by attacks of
his enemies in his absence. Mulasthan, nowadays Mulataan (in Pakistan) began
shining and shimmering once again with unlimited wealth and enthusiasm. One by
one he conquered all countries of the world. All the planets and stars. All great
dignitaries of different planets were brought to do regular job s of servants. In
his palace -- garnet stairs, crystal walls, diamond pillars, pearl chandeliers, amber
chairs and white silk canopy spread moonshine all around. Nymphs walked dancing
around ringing their anklets on gemmed floors of Hiranya's palace.
All celestials offered him tributes. He became so powerful that from the sky
he would grab and eat himself the oblations offered on planet Earth on its way to
be food for celestials, manes and other gods. Throughout all countries of the
world his empire extended. Without plough, without seed-sowing, lands produced
plentiful harvest.

Whatever he wished sky gave him all. Whenever he wished sky would turn itself
into a vast television set and show everything he wished to see and know and
entertain him daily. Oceans with rivers poured gems and jewels daily. Mountains
and valleys created places for his amorous sports. Trees offered fruits all times
of all seasons. Thousands of years passed this way. Hiranya became the supreme
power in the entire cosmic egg.

He had a most beautiful wife, Kayaadhu was her name. He had four sons. The
youngest was Pralhaada ji. He was calm, true to his word. He was so humble and
serviceful to the holy men, to the poor affectionate like a father. Even in great
trouble he would not go shaken. To the joys of the world and beyond he had no
attraction.

One night he was sleeping on his diamond studded bed on soft milky silk under a
moon white canopy. Perfume was spreading. His eyes were closed and he saw a
magnificent man in his dream.

His lotus feet were shimmering with three lights -- reddish, white and blue. His
soles had prints of lotus, conch, flag, gode and temple etc. Yellow silk edges
touching -- immense light was pushing down off the darkness of ignorance from the
heart. He saw his form as if made of live sapphire. His kneecaps, thighs, loin; his
stomach, pearl necklaces covered chest, hands, neck, chin, cheeks, lips, lotus eyes,
forehead, head and hair, crown and earrings. He had four hands holding conch,
discus, club and lotus. And he was smiling; his nose, earrings reflecting upon his
cheeks. Long eyebrows, large almost ear touching eyes. Compassion and love
overflowed from his eyes.

bhrtya nu kampit dhiyeh grhit murteh
sanchintayet bhagavato vadanaravindam
yadvisphuran makar kundal valgiten
vidyotitamal kapol mudar nasam
hasam hare ravanatakhil loka tivra
sokasru sagar visosana matyudaram

His smiling spread and spread in and throughout the universe. Then he saw he is
laughing. Oh such a gracious, elegant laughter as if drying up the oceans of tears
of lamentation, so generous, so widehearted, so majestic is he. Then he saw his
open deep belly laugh echoing and reechoing in the whole universe. His red lips as if
imprinted red, his white teeth... Oh, Oh, and Pralhaad shouted, "O dear, O
Beloved, O my Lord, I love you I love you." And he woke up. Since then a new life
began.

Since then, playing with his friends, roaming in his palace, talking to his mom,
learning in his school, he would suddenly enter into the trance of deep experience
of love. He would be sitting in the park, in the garden, near the swimming pool and
he would go still and silent and immovable. Submerged in meditation of that Lord
of beauty. Sometimes he would experience that beautiful compassionate Lord has
come and has assumed a small boy form, with peacock feather tucked crown on his
long curly hair. Same yellow silk, same smile and grace. A small flute in his hands
and lo, for him he is playing it and sweet, nectarine sound is echoing and reechoing.

Pralhaad is lost in oblivion like his Radha.

Sometimes he would assume a different boy form of zircony light. Princely
elegance, shining crown, yellow silk, gems and pearl necklaces, golden bow and arrow
shimmering and nearby hibiscus perfuming. And he would sink in love and devotion.
He felt he has so much love in his heart that he is embracing him. He is placing him
in his lap.

Walking, talking, eating, drinking, studying, even while sleeping, he experienced
the sweet ambrosial embrace of the Lord. Sometimes he felt Lord has gone away,
away, so far away leaving him alone. And suddenly everything felt like a deserted,
ruined, ghost haunted place of cemetery, even though he is in his so gorgeous
palace, even though he is near his so compassionate mom, even though he is near his
so powerful, rich and famous father. And he would feel so lonely that he would cry.
At times he felt he was hiding in the nearby bushes and he came and he is standing
right in front and he would become so happy that he would laugh loudly -- a belly
laugh. Then he would sing songs of love too. Not only this he would begin to dance
also. At times he would imitate him. He felt a soft, gentle loving touch in his heart
and he would sit still and lost for hours. Other times he would go thrilled, tears
streaming from his eyes.

One morning Pralhaad was visiting his father along with his two teachers, Sanda
and Amarka. Hiranya was in in his royal assembly sitting on his billion dollar throne.
He postponed all engagements and picked up his son and placed him on his lap and
fondling his hair, asked.

"My dear son, tell me what is the best among all you studied so far?"
"The root cause of all agitation and irritation is I-ness and my-ness. Dropping it
off like a dark well covered with grass, people of the world should do only one thing
with all their heart," said Pralhaad.
"I see, what is that they should do, son?"
"Listening and reading the pastimes of the Lord, conversing and singing them,
remembering them, serving them, worshipping, offering obeisances, meditating on
his form and serving him as servant, playing with him like a friend, dedicating
oneself with all one's heart like a beloved consort. These nine symptomed
devotions I consider the best among all what I studied so far."
Hearing this, Hiranya's eyes rolled with anger, trembling with immense wrath
he threw the boy on the floor and scolded the teachers. At once he ordered the
death sentence for Pralhaad. The killer saw his spears and swords do not hurt
Pralhaad. They enter in his body but the hurt went in the air and his body remains
intact, not even a wound is formed. Then he was taken and placed under the feet
of mighty mad elephants; he did not die. He was thrown among cobras. They bit
him; he did not die. He was hurled and dashed down from a hilltop; he did not die.
A treacherous created goblin grabbed him but he did not die.
He was made to drink deadly poison; he did not die. The great magician
Shambar was called. He tried to kill him through magical feats but he remained
undaunted. He was starved, locked in a dark cell, left in a hail storm, put in an ice
cold refrigerator, in a burning fire, tied with a rope he was hurled and thrown in
the ocean but assuming a beautiful form ocean welcomed him, untied him, consoled
and placed him on the beach. He was crushed under the rock, but he did not die.

He lived on.

With all these failures, Hiranyu's wrath increased. He was surprised too and
one day he himself prepared to kill him.

"Who is your Lord in the name of whom you are so confident, so protected and
so independent -- who is it and where does he live?"
"Father, please give up your demonicity and see the Lord, my beloved is here,
there and everywhere. He is even your own power. Being equal in all and loving all
is greatest form of his worship. If you can believe me he is right here, in this
pillar." Pralhaad said calmly.

Hiranya stared and jumped down and dashed a heavy blow of his fist upon that
diamond pillar. It broke into two halves. Ear rending sound spread and like
lightening a half lion and half man gorgeous being appeared. He was almost ceiling
touching tall. He was roaring like an angry lion. He was dangerous, his jaws were
horrifying, his tongues and teeth were sharp like sword, eyebrows turned, big nose,
open mouth, wide chest, thin loin, moonray like hair on the body. Many hands
holding weapons. His nails were like axes. He roared and roared bringing
earthquake and storm. Soldiers ran down and attacked on Lord Narsimha. He
killed them all.

Then Hiranya jumped down again, and a fierceful fight ensued. He dashed his
mighty club on the Lord but he grabbed him with the club but he slipped away.
Both fought for a long time. Then the Lord grabbed him like a cobra picks up a
rat, carried him at the doorway, placed him on his thighs. It was time when dusk
was approaching when he pierced the sharp nails of his hands and tore his belly as
an eagle tears away the snake. He was licking the edges of his mouth and blood
drops adorned his hair. Killing him he took out his intestines and wore a garland of
them and dashed his dead body on the ground. His army ran there to kill him but
Narsimha killed most of them.

The golden hair of his neck and light of his face and eyes shone like sun. Eyes
blinded in his light. And then he went and sat on the high throne of Hiranya's royal
assembly.

All celestials came with Bramhaa, Lord Shiva, Laksmi and Indra too and
eulogized. But no response. No one dared to come closer to him. He was hot,
shining and angry. At last they sent to little Pralhaad who went closer. As soon as
Lord saw him, the sweet simple boy, he immediately picked him up and placed him
on his lap and out of great love licked him and said.

"My dear Pralhaad, oh, so soft your body, softer is your heart, and so cruel
persecution of that demon -- I am so sorry. If I am late, please forgive me."
Hearing the compassionate words of the Lord all celestials showered flowers
and shouted, "All glories to Thee, Jai Jai!"

Pralhaad's devotion combined with Lord Narsimha's compassion became effulgent
light of lovetrance. And Pralhaad became enlightened. He felt as if, elephants
cannot be accommodated in a hole of a snake, he cannot be accommodated in the
world. And the entire world celebrated a festival of his enlightenment.
Lord Narsimha coronated him -- to that five year old boy and the universe
danced in ecstasy. Now Pralhaad's reign began. It continued peacefully for
thousands of years.

One day Pralhaad entered in nirvikalp samadhi -- same state of Lovetrance
where he was overflooded by bliss, love and awareness. He sat for another set of
five thousand years. Daityas tried hard but couldn't wake him up. At last Lord
Visnu came on his mighty Garuda. All cheered when he blew his snow white
Panchajanya conch. He entered the palace. All were surrounding him. He entered
into the same trance of meditation where Pralhaad was and he brought him out to
the physical level of life. A great celebration started. A dharma empire was
established. All citizens worked hard on realizing their true Self either through
deep love (nine symptomed devotion) or through knowledge.

STORY OF KING BALI

In the sub terranean regions the most beautiful and break taking place is Sutal loka.
is all white land with magnificent scenes and sights. There lived King Bali, the
conquerer of all the worlds above and below. He enjoyed his government for eons
and eons. He saw ages after ages passing. He saw the whole world whipping off
and a new one being created and that too died, then came another new one. He
became sorrowful upon the ever-changing phase of the world. He developed a quest
to know the never-changing aspect of Realty. He approached his Reverend Father
who was a wise man.
"There is a place, O dear son, upon which innumerable worlds appear, oceans,
rivers, mountains, sun, moon and stars too. And there is one silent performer of all.
He has a minister. He makes anyone and everyone his minister. His minister is
invincible and powerful. Not even gods can subdue and control him. The minister
does everything. King is silent. He always stays behind the curtain. Never comes
out. Minister is too troublesome. He creates all problems. But as soon as one
visits the king he troubles no more. It is impossible to win the heart of the
minister without seeing the king. And without seeing the king it is impossible to
please the minister. This catch-22 trap is always there.
One has to try for both simultaneously.
This place is known as Liberation. Self is the king. Mind is the minister.
Conquering him one conquers the whole world. How to conquer mind?
This minister is intoxicated by joys of the five senses of perception... seeing
various things, hearing music or sweet words, feeling nice touch, tasting, smelling
nice smell etc. It is like an elephant drunk with this wine. When you withdraw your
fascination from these five you encounter the aatmaa in the state of Mystic
Trance (samadhi).

How to do it?

Close your eyes, that is conquering the eyes. Do not think of the past, that is
conquering the rest of the senses. Do not worry. Just stay in the present.
Relinquish sense gratifications. Then you see the king, the Self, and then the
minister is okay; he never bothers.

Bali began practicing day in, day out. One day he felt to visit his spiritual
master, Sage Shukra. He remembered him. And then Shukra appeared in front of
his disciple. His heart bloomed with pleasure like a flower. He offered him a
throne and worshipped him.

"Holy Sire, I would like to know who am I? Who are you and what is this
world?" Bali asked.

"You are effulgence of consciousness. And what you are and what this whole
world is is the same. This effulgence of consciousness is Bramha."
Bali wanted to ask and hear more but Shukra was in a hurry. He said, "I have
an urgent emergency to peform so I am going right now to the milky way. I must
be with seven Sages within moments. You should contemplate on this dictum. And
I will come and we will talk." He took leave.

King Bali sat cross-legged, spine straight, eyes closed, and began
contemplation... he entered into the Atlantic depths of Mystic Trance. Days,
weeks, months and years rolled by and he didn't move. Like a curved statue he
remained seated transcended and submerged into the Divine.

All ministers, family members, friends and VIPs, even great persons from other
planets came, and with immense curiousity peeked inside through the gemmed
window to see what he was doing. Great vidyadharas, nagas, Rambha and Tilotamaa
came and watched. Some were joyous, others concerned, still others afraid.
Daityas (people of his race) remembered Sage Shukra, their spiritual master,
who lived in his own planet in our Solar system. He can be contacted in times of
need. Then in a short time there he appeared -- illustrious. All daityas offered a
seat on the golden throne and worshipped him. He opened the door and silently
walked in and along with him all people. He came close and became very happy to
see that he truly understood his short message.

After full observation he informed all people -- that it is not proper to awaken
him at this moment. Let him be in the laudable state. In time he will wake up on
his own.

After one thousand celestial years King Bali opened his eyes. Then flowers
showered, kettle drums echoed, and all people sang songs of joy and celebration.
The King opened his large eyes, looked around and wondered, "Oh, what
happened? I was thrown out into a dry desert from the lands of bliss and love and
peace... why?" Later, he thought, "Let me enter into meditation again." All the
daityas ran down and bowed to him again and again. And with eyes filled with tears
of love and request, asked him to stay with them and not leave.
Bali thought for awhile and said, "Okay." He stood up, took bath, wore fresh
clothes, ate breakfast and began to take care of his royal duties. He acted then
expecting nothing. He was doing the most important thing, the supreme welfare of
the State and he was constantly busy. He was performing his duties according to
dharma and most efficiently. He was doing all and everything the best, the superb,
but as if doing nothing just existing. This was his life.

Please read the journal issue Love trance World 1983 "Doing Nothing Just
Existing".

TORY OF PUNYA & PAVANA

On the top high hills of Mount Mahendra there was a town of sages -- like Hitaites
or Amise. Its huge mountain peaks have gone all the way up to Bramhaloka. On
hill a Desire tree under which celestials used to rest. Fountains,parks, peacocks, cuckoos, swan soundings, deers leaping, birds chirping. All animals were enjoying the peace. Many sages lived in the valley.

There was a couple, Dirghatapa by name who had two most handsome sons --
Punya and Pavana. Punya was bright, Pavana was dull. They used to paly on the
forest paths with other muni's sons.

After sometime the couple left their bodies. Panic arose in the heart of all the
family Pavana was crying bitterly. After performing all the last rites on the
fifteenth day, both brothers sat together.

"Dear brother, why do you cry? Our parents have gone to the planet of Bliss
eternal. They have gone to greater joy. Neither anyone was your mother nor
father, nor anyone will be. Out of ignorance upon many you assumed this
relationship. Not only with them but with many others. You had thousands of
mothers and thousands of fathers. Why don't you lament for them. It is a mirage.
Brother, see neither you are nor world nor these sights. Toss away these from
your heart. It is born out of your will. It is no truth. World is a river of mirage in
the desert. It evolves innumerable waves of good and bad, auspicious and
inauspicious, and submerges at last.

"As dust particles you see wavering in there so that many friends and parents
you had before. All the tears you had shed for them, if we collect them, will make
another Atlantic ocean. If we make one whole cemetery for them it will make a
whole continent turn into a cemetery. For whom do you lament, what for, what do
you derive?
"Many times you became a deer, you had parents and friends then also. Why
don't you cry for them too? You were an elephant, you had a family then too. You
were a tree once. Other trees were your kinsmen. You were a crocodile in a lake.
In Dasarna State you were a crow. In Tusarna State you were a Prince. In Bengal
you were an elephant, in Siberia you were a donkey. In Malava State you were a
snake and a tree. In Kosal you were a bramhin. In China you were a business man.
In Poland you were a woman. In Italy's Vatican garden you were a spiritual master.
In England you became a king again in the Druid race. In Egypt you were a
minister. In Gaul you were a laborer. In Himalayas you were a pond. In Kashmir
you were a lotus in Dale lake.

Dear Brother, as passionate clinging you evolved in your mind strong enough to
become your last thought at times of death those bodies you got. And there and
there you became involved in them, instead of trying hard to get free. You
developed relationships with wife, kids, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, their kids,
keeping your prestige up you remained busy. Terribly busy. And that foolish
busyness remained the matter of your dignity.

Never you felt ashamed to say yourself is too busy to do the right thing to search for the Self. You remained dull and a dunce.

"Brother, me too like yourself, I also went on transmigrating body after body
after body. In the same these forests I strolled as a camel. I remember being a
tree, bird, swan, king, deer; you were then my elder brother, for ten years we lived
together. But now I am awakened. I wish you too, wiping out your fantasy and
illusion, be enlightened."
Hearing these wise words of his brother, Pavana also became enlightened. Then
both hand in hand together strolled innumerable hills, dales and valleys. They
rested under many trees, drank and ate beside many rivers. Traveled to many
countries. At last when the oil is consumed,
Self became one with Cosmic-Self -- Bramha.

Upasama Prakarana Section

These wonderful discourses of Sage Vasistha showered nectar in the hearts of all
listeners. Their happy faces looked like bloomed lotuses of autumn. As soon as
Vasistha stopped, pin-drop silence spread. Ladies kept glancing unwinkingly at the
stage where Sri Rama along with his brothers were sitting with Sage Vasistha
alongside King Dasaratha and Sage Visvamitra. Everyone offered their respect and
left for night rest.

In the night Sri Rama began his contemplation--
--Who is the wanderer in this world dream?
--From where all these beings have come and where do they go?
--What is the nature of mind? How will it have peace?
--From where arises the maya? How is it destroyed?
--How ego enters in our interactions?
--Like an alligator grabbed a mighty elephant world has captured the human soul;
how could it be freed?
--Fallen into the spider web of illusion of "I, my, me" all are suffering; what is the
remedy?
--This ghost of world-appearance is becoming heavier and heavier, harder and
harder. In the clouds of sensual necessities my intuition and insights are getting
lost; what is the remedy?
--When will I attain peace?
--When shall I find eternal rest in my true Self?
--Oh, when I will drop my burning fever of "I, my, me" notions?
--When will my mind stay calm like a flame in an airless room?
--When I shall be separate from this stinky body?
--Intellect you are my sister. You memorize exactly what Gurudev has said. First,
was dispassion. Second was liberation interaction. Third was origin. Fourth was
maintenance. Remember them over and over. Unless decided firmly all actions are
fruitless.

The cloud of autumn appears great but contains no water, and therefore
fruitless. So also without bearing the information in one's heart, without upholding
the knowledge in mind, nothing succeeds.

Contemplating thus, Prince Rama entered into deep state of Mystic trance. It
fulfilled the need of sleep. Night passed. Morning raga echoed. After bath in holy
Sarayu river all brothers came to Sage Vasistha's ashram.

It was still predawn darkness prevailing. Sage was absorbed deep in meditation.
All brothers offered their obeisances and stood folded hands. As sunrays spread
goldenizing all the directions, kings, princes and Sages arrived from many
directions. Sage opened his eyes... all offered obeisances. Sage blessed them all.

Then holding the hands of Sage Visvamitra, Vasistha rode on the royal chariot and
came to King Dasaratha's palace. Among great jubilation they all took delicious
breakfast, then came to the Royal assembly, sat on a golden throne, Sri Rama in his
front. All members after them. Sunrays peeped in, lotuses blossomed, perfumes
spread, ladies sat on the balcony and King Dasaratha said:

"Holy Sire, just like gems and jewels come out from the ocean, likewise great
words of wisdom flow from you. Your words are eye openers which feel like
ointment, shower of nectar, dispeller of darkness of ignorance. Please begin your
dialogue, dispeller of darkness of ignorance. Please begin. We are ready." Then he
turned to his son Sri Rama.

"My dear lotus eyed son Rama, as before, please ask whatever questions you
have to the Sage which have been bothering you all along. Together with you we all
will be sanctified hearing these wonderful narrations."

Seeing all eager to hear, Sage Vasistha looked at Sri Rama and began his
discourse. King Janaka was very generous and patient. He was like a desire tree to
the needy, like sunrise to the lotuses of friends and kinsmen, like spring season to
the family members, like cupid to the ladies. He was like a full moon to the lily of
divine experience. He has a most beautiful garden named Baga Tadag. After
finishing his royal duties he entered the garden along with his close friends. It
was a beautiful scene. Flowers were blooming, birds were chirping, peacocks
dancing, cuckoos cooing, lotus perfume spreading with the coolness of the sparkling
water-filled pond. King was absorbed in the loveliness of nature and moved alone in
the dense bushes while friends stayed near the temple conversing with each other.
While he was lost in beauty of flowers, clear sky, green trees and singing birds,
he heard a new extraordinary song in his sanskrit.


"Oh, how wonderful, it is now I see the bliss which is felt in intellect by union of
sight and the seer and separation of the unwanted and achievement of most
desirous is not at all from anywhere else but from my own Self." One song
completed.

"Oh my, please get off, rise above the seer, seeing and sight along with passion
of desperation. Before the seeing which is illustrious, through light of whom all
are lit I meditate on that experience of Self." Second Siddha sang.

"That which is spotless, reflectionless, beyond mind, nature of non-dual pure
existence I meditate on that." Sang the third.

"The one which is in between seer and the seen, yes and no, is and not is one which
is the very existence of all that is and lights the sun and the moon and all the eyes
of the world I meditate upon that Self." Sang the fourth.

"The Supreme God who is sa in start and ha at end of name but truly is endless,
eternal, bliss, residing in all hearts and feels to us in the form of ego. I meditate
unto him."

"Those who avoid this Self go to other Lords with great expectations are
looking for trash abandoning diamonds and sapphires." Sang the sixth Siddha.

"One who relinquishes all hopes he accomplishes and poisonous vines of hope are
rooted out." Sang the seventh Siddha.

Hearing this song of Siddhas, King returned to his palace and went to the
terrace and looking around the capital he became despondent. So much so that he
began to cry. "Oh this mind has dropped me in this pit of body consciousness.

Mind is a piece of ice, inert, hard, solid stone like. But by the heat of sun
discretion it is melting away. Now I am who I was." Long time passed.

The maid came and said, "Please rise and take bath. Dusk is approaching fast.
All maids are standing with pitchers in hand. Food is cooking in the kitchen.
Perfume of ghee, cumin and hing frying is coming." King sank in long contemplation
again. Then he got up and walked like a sleep figure. As if the world is too
unimportant and unnecessary he would perform all his activities in total
indifference but miracle it would be as efficient and skillful as any smartest men
could have done it.