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Upanishads conclude that everything except ‘Brahman’ is a mere illusion. For the simple reason that we cannot understand it, we cannot deem the Upanishads to be wrong, because we have many standing examples of Mahans who have attained this highest state of ‘Atmaswaroopa’ (Self). Since these Mahans have attained liberation or ‘BrahmaBhava’ (Self-realization) during their lifetime itself, they are called as ‘JivanMuktãs’. The biography of such great Mahans prove to be good examples and a real source of inspiration to all of us.

Srimad Bhãgavatam - Fifth Canto - Jadabharata Charithra

"Oh! King! The mind wanders through eleven places, viz.

• The five senses of perception (Smell, form, touch, taste and sound - the five subtle elements or "Jnãnendriya"),

• The five organs of action (defecation, coition, locomotion, speech and perceiving an object - the forms of organic activity or "Karmendriya") and

• Acknowledging the body as "Mine"(arising due to ego sense).

Oh! King! The ever pure Lord merely watches everything as a witness and never gets identified with the mind and its many fold thoughts that appears in a endless series(now visible in the waking state and dream state and again hidden in deep sleep) which is nothing but mere illusion and ever indulges in impure activities.

Oh! Ruler of men! So long as,

• The Jiva does not disassociate himself from the world,

• Wins over the six enemies (lust, anger, greed, infatuation, arrogance and jealousy),

• Shakes off the maya with the help of the light of knowledge,

• Realizes the true nature of the Self and

• Is unable to control his mind (which creates grief, infatuation, disease, attachment, greed. ego- sense etc)

Rahugana was unable to comprehend that it is the mind that is the cause of joy and sorrow. Therefore JadaBharata began to expound on what the King deemed to be the truth and the cause for sorrow.

"Oh! King! The body that you are attached to is nothing but the modification of the earth that takes the name of "body". Since in reality the body has no Jnãna, once the element which is the form of Consciousness ("chetana") leaves it, its insentient nature comes to light. In this insentient body, the heels, thighs, hip, chest, neck and head have been arranged one above the other. It is in this insentient thing that you have a deep rooted attachment of -" I am Rahugana Maharaja!" This insentient body is within the insentient palanquin. Further, due to your ego you have made these insentient things carry the palanquin. You also boast to be the protector of people. Mahans do not appreciate such acts, because if these insentient things were permanent in nature, there is a meaning in being attached to them. But they are impermanent and subject to destruction. The body that existed 100 years ago does not exist now. The body that one possessed in childhood is not found in youth. The healthy physique in youth becomes weak in old age and is destroyed at the end. Thus the bodies that are modifications of earth disappears in earth itself. But is this earth permanent? No! This earth also disappears in the substance from which it originated. Thus fatness, leanness etc. are the attributes of the body and not the Self which is in the form of Knowledge. Further, know that things and activities are all the imaginations of the mind born out of Maya(illusion).

To be continued……….

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