August 13, 2026
asmācchāstrādṛte śreyo na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati
tataḥ paramabodhārthamidameva vicāryataṁ (25)
VASIṢṬHA continued:
The infinite consciousness alone shines as this world-appearance. How can it perish? There is no possibility for the existence of another other than consciousness. When the body perishes, consciousness does not perish. If it is said that consciousness ceases when the body perishes, then it is a matter for rejoicing as there is cessation of saṁsāra and sorrow! If it is said that consciousness exists as long as the body exists, how is it that the dead body is not conscious? All these arguments are not valid. The infinite consciousness alone is real and whatever it wishes to experience it does experience as existence because there is no obstruction to the realisation of its notions. The world has never been created: what is is the infinite consciousness.
This consciousness itself wishes to experience its infinite potencies. It knows itself when it is aware of itself and it is ignorant of itself when it is unaware of itself. Therefore, even knowledge and ignorance are pure consciousness and there is no such division, in truth. Hence, one should engage oneself seriously in the realisation of the self; self-knowledge bestows on one the best of both the worlds.
Abandon every kind of mental agitation and devote every moment of your life to the study and investigation of this scripture. One surely gains that for which one strives; if one neglects it he loses it. The mind flows along the course of wisdom or of ignorance, in whichever direction you make it flow. Except through this scripture, one cannot gain what is good, now or at any time. Therefore, for perfect realisation of the supreme truth, one should fervently investigate this scripture alone. This scripture does more good to you than your father and mother and all your friends put together.
The dreadful illness known as saṁsāra or bondage to worldly existence is not cured by any remedy other than self-knowledge. It is a great pity that you waste your time and await the hour of death. Foolish people who run after wealth and fame pawn their very lives in gaining and preserving them. Why do they not spend their life and their time in the investigation of the scripture and the attainment of immortality? It is through self-knowledge that one can destroy misfortunes and calamities by their very roots.
It is for your good that I cry aloud day and night and declare the truth. Listen to this and realise the self by the self. If you do not rid yourself now of this dire illness, what will you do after death? There is no scripture like this to help you in attaining self-knowledge. Let it shine like a lamp, let it awaken and instruct you like a father and let it bring you joy like a wife. In this scripture there is nothing new; but the truth has been presented in a pleasant fashion with a number of stories. It is the truth that is proclaimed in this scripture that is important; not the one who has declared the truth or composed the scripture.