March 1, 2026
yadacchaṁ śītalatvaṁ ca tadasyā ‘‘tmendurucyate
itīndorutthitaḥ so ‘gniragniṣomau hi dehakaḥ (75)
RĀMA asked:
How is it possible for these mortal eyes to behold the celestials?
VASIṢṬHA said:
Indeed, no mortal can behold the celestials with these mortal eyes. But through the eyes of pure intelligence the celestials are seen, as in a dream. The celestials are able to fulfil one’s desires. Vision of celestials is non-different from dream, in fact, the only difference being that the effect of the vision is lasting. Again, if one is able to hold the life-force in the dvādaśānta (twelve finger-breadths from the body) for a considerable time after exhalation the life-force is able to enter other bodies. This power is inherent in the life-force; though by nature unsteady it can be steadied. Since the ignorance which envelops everything is insubstantial, such exceptions are often seen in the movement of energy in this world. Surely all this is indeed Brahman, the diversity and diverse functions are mere figures of speech.
RĀMA asked:
In order to enter into minute spaces (nāḍīs) and then in order to fill the inner space with the life-force, one’s body has to be made both atomic and solid at the same time! How is this made?
VASIṢṬHA said:
When wood and the saw come together, wood is split. But when two pieces of wood come together, there is fire! All this is part of nature.
**In this physical body, two forces come together in the abdomen. Together they form a hollow stick. In it rests the kuṇḍalinī. This kuṇḍalinī stands midway between heaven and earth and is ever vibrant with life-force. Dwelling in the heart it experiences all. It keeps all the psychic centres in a state of constant vibration or motion. It digests or devours everything. It makes the psychic centres tremble by the movement of prāṇa. It sustains the fire in the body till all the essences have been exhausted.
By nature it is cool, but because of it the body becomes warm. It is spread throughout the body, though it dwells in the heart where it is contemplated by the yogi. It is of the nature of jñāna (knowledge) and in its light a distant object is seen as if near. Whatever is cool is the moon, the self; from this moon arises fire. The body is made of this moon and this fire. In fact, the entire world is made of these two, the cool moon and the warm fire. Or, you may consider that this world is the creation of knowledge and ignorance, the real and the unreal. In which case, consciousness, light and knowledge are considered the sun or the fire and inertness, darkness and ignorance are considered as the moon.