A STORY FROM YOGA VASISHTAM --
WHICH EMPHASIZES MANO NASHA(DESTRUCTION
OF MIND) IS ESSENTIAL FOR ATHMA JNANA(SELF
REALISATION) --
King SIKIDWAJA and Queen CHUDALA ruled the
kingdom of Malava.Chudala observed spiritual practices,
meditation, bhakthi & in due course realised ATHMA
JNANA. Her face had divine luster & spiritual bliss could
be seen by others. So king asked the reason & queen
replied it was due to realisation of Brahma Jnana.King
laughed at her thinking realisation is possible through
austerities,penance & can never be achieved while living
in a palace.He told her his intention to renounce kingdom
& do tapas in forest. Queen Chudala dissuaded him from
going to forest, told him that he can practice tapas in palace
itself & he can rule the kingdom as well.He did not believe
in her advice,went to the forest & did hard tapas.Chudala
ruled the kingdom in his absence.
Queen Chudala wanted to help her husband from
delusion,hence she practiced SIDDHIS(Siddhis do not help
sadaka in spiritual progress) to impress him.She took the
guise of one KUMBHA MUNI & stood in front of him,a few
feet above ground.The king thought some celestial being
has descended from heaven to bless him.He fell to his feet,
told his woes & asked for his guidance.The Muni advised
him," KARMAS can give fruit as ordained by the Lord but
Karmas by themselves cannot grant salvation.Mind
becomes pure by carrying out disinterested actions.With
such a pure mind you should concentrate on Self, which
destroys VASANAS.Then one should approach a GURU
& through his Grace learn how to enquire into the nature of
Self & not by any amount of KARMAS.One would realise
the TRUTH by renouncing everything.
The King said that he has renounced everything
,including his kingdom & family.The MUNI told him his
renunciation is only external & still seeds of attachment
were in him.On hearing this the king took out his walking
staff,kamandalu,rudraksha,clothes & threw them all into the
fire,stood without any possession.The MUNI still told him he
has not renounced completely, the King was ready to drop
his body by jumping from top of mountain.Kumbha asked the
King,"What harm the body has done to deserve the
punishment?" The MUNI taught him that he would not realise
the Truth by destroying the body but only by destroying the
mind which was the source of attachment.The mind identifies
itself as 'I' & this was bondage. Breaking this identity was
renunciation of everything. Kumbha taught the King in detail
SADHANA of DISCRIMINATION.
The king's mind became pure,who enquired into
the source of Self, became one with it & remained in
SAMADHI state.Kumbha Muni disappeared & returned after
some time.Queen Chudala roared like lion but could not wake
him up. Then taking a subtle form she entered into the King's
heart & found it pure devoid of any latent tendencies.Then
she chanted in a melodious voice SAMA VEDA & King
became aware of the world, like blossoming of a lotus.
The King filled with joy,remained silent not knowing how to
express his gratitude.King returned to the kingdom as per
the advise of Queen.Established in Truth, he ruled the
kingdom,happily with Queen CHUDALA.
==================================
Pl. read --
WHAT IS MIND ?
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