of our food, and are acted upon by the ten Prana airs.
This is the way by which patient Yogins who have overcome
all difficulties, and who view things with an impartial
and equal eye, with their souls seated in the brain,
find the Supreme Spirit, the Prana and the Apana airs
are thus present in the body of all creatures.
Know that the spirit is embodied in corporeal disguise,
in the eleven allotropous conditions (of the animal
system), and that though eternal, its normal state
is apparently modified by its accompaniments,—even
like the fire purified in its pan,—eternal,
yet with its course altered by its surroundings; and
that the divine thing which is kindred with the body
is related to the latter in the same way as a drop
of water to the sleek surface of a lotus-leaf on which
it rolls. Know that sattwa, rajas and tamas,
are the attributes of all life and that life is the
attribute of spirit, and that the latter again is an
attribute of the Supreme Spirit. Inert, insensible
matter is the seat of the living principle, which
is active in itself and induces activity in others.
That thing by which the seven worlds are incited to
action is called the most high by men of high spiritual
insight. Thus in all these elements, the eternal
spirit does not show itself, but is perceived by the
learned in spiritual science by reason of their high
and keen perception. A pure-minded person, by
purification of his heart, is able to destroy the
good and evil effect of his actions and attains eternal
beatitude by the enlightenment of his inward spirit.
That state of peace and purification of heart is likened
to the state of a person who in a cheerful state of
mind sleeps soundly, or the brilliance of a lamp trimmed
by a skillful hand. Such a pure-minded person
living on spare diet perceives the Supreme Spirit
reflected in his own, and by practising concentration
of mind in the evening and small hours of the night,
he beholds the Supreme Spirit which has no attributes,
in the light of his heart, shining like a dazzling
lamp, and thus he attains salvation. Avarice
and anger must be subdued by all means, for this act
constitutes the most sacred virtue that people can
practise and is considered to be the means by which
men can cross over to the other side of this sea of
affliction and trouble. A man must preserve his
righteousness from being overcome by the evil consequences
of anger, his virtues from the effects of pride, his
learning from the effects of vanity, and his own spirit
from illusion. Leniency is the best of virtues,
and forbearance is the best of powers, the knowledge
of our spiritual nature is the best of all knowledge,
and truthfulness is the best of all religious obligations.
The telling of truth is good, and the knowledge of
truth may also be good, but what conduces to the greatest
good of all creatures, is known as the highest truth.
He whose actions are performed not with the object
of securing any reward or blessing, who has sacrificed