365bet娱乐

Since the form of the object that has entered into the melted mind is permanent, the author says: 30. WHEN THE MELTED MIND GRASPS THE THE LORD--WHO IS OMNIPRESENT, ETERNAL, FULL, AND OF THE NATURE OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND BLISS--WHAT ELSE REMAINS?

"Omnipresent" indicates that He pervades all space; 284 "eternal" that He exists through all time; "full" means that, since He is one without second, He is the substratum of the whole illusion of duality; and "consciousness and bliss" marks the Lord as the supreme goal of life. Because the numberless forms of objects that have entered the mind since beginningless time are destroyed by such a mental form of the Lord, and He alone shines forth, the purpose of life is accomplished. This is the meaning. The author now reminds us of the purpose of melting, as previously explained, 224 in order to inspire steadfastness in striving for it: 31. THE HARD MIND DOES NOT GRASP; THE SOFT MIND DOES NOT RECEIVE AN IMPRESSION. KNOWLEDGE WHICH IS DIRECTED TOWARD OBJECTS LIKE STONES, THE WISE CALL INDIFFERENT 225 COGNITION. The hard mind simply does not grasp the object. The soft mind, though it grasps, does not retain a permanent impression. This is because in both cases there is no melting of the mind, as has been previously explained. 226 Hardness is the state of not being even slightly melted, while softness is that of being slightly so. These conditions may be recognized by the absence of the ecstatic modes, 227 which are effects of the melted state and are set forth as follows:

285 Becoming paralysed, perspiring, thrilling of the hair on the body, breaking of the voice, trembling, changing color, crying, and fainting--these are known as the eight ecstatic modes. Natya-Shastra 6.22 Therefore, hardness in respect of the Blessed Lord is condemned: That heart is made of stone which is not, alas! affected by the singing of the names of Hari. When the heart is affected, there will be tears in the eyes and bristling of the hairs of the body. 2.3.2 Without devotion, a melted mind, tears of joy, and thrilling of the hair, how can the heart become pure? 11.14.23 The meaning is that, without devotion, how can the mind be purified? devotion? Without the melting of the mind, how can there be And without tears of joy and thrilling of the hair, how can the melting state be known? The mention of tears of joy and the bristling of the body hair is meant to suggest paralysis, perspiring, and the other ecstatic modes also. Because there is no impression made in the mind when it is not melted, the wise, i.e., the learned, call knowledge of things such as stones indifferent cognition. This knowledge is not a cause of permanent mental impressions. According to the author of the Nyayavartika, 228 "The object which is neither a means to pleasure nor a source of pain is an object of indifference."

286 Attachment is the cause of a permanent mental impression in the case of an object which provides pleasure; when an object that is a source of pain is present, aversion is the cause. In the absence of both, because the mind does not melt, no permanent mental impression is created. This is the meaning. The mind's acquisition of the form of the Blessed Lord is the secret meaning of all the scriptures because all scriptures, though differing in approach, culminate in this state alone. Before it is attained, however, the forms of all other objects must be removed from the mind.