what asserts itself as ‘I’ is but the mind.
All scriptures, with one voice, declare that control of the mind is absolutely necessary for the attainment of salvation. Hence control of the mind is the goal to be aimed at. Even an endless study of books serves no purpose, if the mind is not brought under control. In order to control the mind, one must enquire, “What am I?” Does any book help such an enquiry? One can realise the Self (Atma) only through the eye of knowledge. If Rama wants to know that he is Rama, does he require the help of the mirror? The Self resides within the body composed of five sheaths (kosas) while books are merely external objects. The Self has to be sought within, passing the five sheaths, and it is quite futile to seek for it in books. Knowledge of the Self that seems to be in bondage and realisation of its true nature (Swarupa) is liberation (Mukti). The effort to keep the mind always concentrated on the Self, is what is called Atma-Vicharam. Dhyan or meditation is the contemplation of one’s Self as Sat-Chit-Ananda, i.e., as Brahman whose nature is Sat (existence), Chit (knowledge) Ananda (bliss). There may come a time when one shall have to forget

all that he has learnt, rubbish that is swept together and heaped up is to be thrown away. There is no use in making any analysis of its contents. Likewise, it serves no purpose to investigate minutely into the elements (tatvas) which cover up the Self and to determine what they are, and what properties they are endowed with, while they are to be simply brushed aside. Treat the world as a dream. Waking consciousness may be a bit longstanding, while dreamconsciousness may be momentary. There may be some seeming difference between the two, but that is all. All that you see in a dream, during that dream-condition seems as real as the objects you see in your waking condition. Both in the dream state and in the waking state, thoughts, names and forms occur simultaneously.

Bhavan's Journal,May 15, 2022∎ 7