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.