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BRAHMANISM
on a long-enduring, one-pointed inner vision; a fervent concentration. This step leads beyond the sphere of argument and cogitation. The restlessness of the mind is put at rest because all of its energies have been brought to a single, stable point. Nididhyāsanam is defined as “a flow or stream of ideas which are all of the same kind as those of the one-without-a-second; a flow of ideas devoid of all such thoughts as those of a body, a mind, an ego, the duality of subject-object, etc." 165 Having become saturated in the second stage with the ideas and attitudes of Vedanta, to the complete exclusion of all else, the intellect now is urged to dwell incessantly in the truth of Vedanta and concentrate its own spontaneous activities on centers conducing to the goal. The goal, the one-without-a-second, is no longer approached actively, through argument and cogitation, but as though on the waters of a stream or river easily flowing of itself. Consciousness takes the shape of Brahman spontaneously by merging into it.
4. The final state is typified by the classic image of the salt in water. "Just as when salt has been dissolved in water the salt is no longer perceived separately and the water alone remains, so likewise the mental state that has taken the form of Brahman, the one-without-a-second, is no longer perceived, only the Self remains." 166 In this state the distinction between the onlooker and thing looked upon (the subject and object) disappear. The consciousness of the devotee has transformed itself into the substance of the Self. The state would seem to be identical with, or at least closely akin to, deep dreamless sleep, wherein consciousness is totally lost, because in both states there is, to all appearance, no "oscillation of consciousness." Nevertheless, there is in fact a remarkable difference; for whereas there is really no such oscillation in deep sleep, in the state of the merging of consciousness with the being of the Self (samādhi) an oscillation is acutely
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| SR No. | 007309 |
| Book Title | Philosophies of India |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Heinrich Zimmer, Joseph Campbell |
| Publisher | Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd |
| Publication Year | 1953 |
| Total Pages | 709 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 34 MB |