Daily Readings from the Works of Swami Venkatesananda

Swamiji's Commentary

To be totally desireless, mine-ness-less and egoless, is to live in tune with the infinite. The ego is the limiting factor. It is this sense of separation that is subject to grief and suffering, to sin and sorrow. Since even this arises in the reality or cosmic consciousness, it is experienced as if it (the sense of separation) were real! In fact, it is a non-entity. It is but the aggregate of beginningless ignorance, conditioning and thought. In its shadow, the cell which is one with the body of God, an integral part of the body of God, forever inseparable from it, assumes individual, private, limited and egoistic existence. It enjoys for a moment now and then, and suffers over long periods. The momentary joy arises when a ‘desire’ subsides; sorrow when the desire prevails. It is deluded into thinking that there is diversity here, feeling that some are good and others are evil, some friends and others enemies. This delusion-created conditioning or diversity is the field for the ceaseless play of manifold evil. All sins have their origin in it; all problems arise in it; it is restlessness itself. One who is free from this egoism is rid of this delusion and thus the offsprings of delusion. He is never deluded. He has experienced the infinite in the egoless state. No words can describe this experience; the mind is powerless to grasp it. Here is a hint and a warning: if one is established in this cosmic consciousness, one will not be deluded. In other words, if one is inclined to be deluded, obviously one is not established in it. If, however, one falters in it (as Jada Bhārata did), even at the hour of death, one is subject to birth and death. If one is firmly established till the last hour, he attains to brāhma-nirvāṇa, final liberation. This is the goal of life. Eternal vigilance or ceaseless awareness is the path.