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Válmiki
Yoga-Vāsistha, Book 3: Utpatti-Prakarana (Evolution of the World). Chapter 87 - Analecta of the Celestial Spheres
The Sol said : O great father of creation! thus did these venerable Brāhmanas, remain at that spot, occupied with these various thoughts (of existence), and their several actions in their minds for a long time. 1
They remained in this state (of abstraction), until their bodies were dried up by exposure to the sun and air, and dropped down in time like the withered leaves of trees. 2
Their dead bodies were devoured by the voracious beasts of the forest, or tossed about as some ripe fruits by the monkeys on the hills, (to be food for greedy vultures and hungry dogs).
These Brāhmanas, having their thoughts distracted from outward objects, and concentrated in Brahmāhood, continued in the enjoyment of divine felicity in their Spirits, until the close of the kalpa age at the end of the four yogas. 3
At the end of the kalpa, there is an utter extinction of the solar light by the incessant rains poured down by the heavy Puskara and Āvartaka clouds at the great deluge: 4
When the hurricane of desolation blew on all sides, and buried all beings under the Universal ocean, (which covered the face of the earth).
It was then your dark night, and the previous creation slept as in their yoga-nidrā or hypnotic trance in your sleeping self. Thus you continuing in your spirit, did contain all things in you in their spiritual forms. (Darkness reigned on the deep, and the spirit of God viewed everything in itself).
Upon your waking this day with your desire of creation, all these things are exhibited to your view, as a copy of all that was in your inmost mind or Spirit already. 5
I have thus related to you O Brahmā! how these ten Brāhmanas were personified as so many Brahmās; these have become the ten bright orbs situated in the vacuous sphere of your mind. 6
I am the one eldest among them, consecrated in this temple of the sky, and appointed by you, O lord of all! to regulate the portions of time on earthly beings.
Now I have given you a full account of the ten orbs of heaven, which are no other then the ten persons united in the mind of Brahmā, and now appearing as detached from him. 7
This beautiful world that you behold, appearing to your view, with all its wonderful structures, spread out in the skies, serves at best as a snare to entrap your senses, and delude your understanding, by taking the unrealities as realities in your mind. 8
Footnotes
1. This sort of Yoga mediation is called Sārūpya, or approximation of one to the divine attribute, of thinking on the States and functions of all things in the world in one's self.
2. This is called the Samādhi Yoga or absorption in meditation, until one's final extinction or Euthanasia in the Spirit.
3. The duration of a day of Brahmā extends over a kalpa age composed of four yogas, followed by his night of kalpānta, when he becomes extinct in his death-like sleep, the twin brother of death. Ho hupnos esti didunios adelphos thanatow.
4. When the doors of heaven were laid open to rain in floods on earth. Genesis
5. So it is upon our waking from sleep, we come to see a fac-simile of all that lay dormant in the sleeping mind.
6. An English poet has expressed the holy soul to appear as a luminary in heaven.
7. Mentally viewed, everything is found situated in the mind, but when seen with open eyes, it seems to be set apart from us. Have therefore your thoughts or your sights as you may choose.
8. Brahmā the Demiurgus, being but architect of the world, and a person next to or an emanation of the mind of God, had not the intelligence of the soul, to discern the innate ideas, which represented themselves in the outer creation.
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