ation 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 all to the requirements of his renunciation, is a
real _Sannyasin_ and is really wise. And as communion with Brahma cannot
be taught to us, even by our spiritual preceptor,--he only giving us a
clue to the mystery--renunciation of the material world is called
_Yoga_. We must not do harm to any creature and must live in terms of
amity with all, and in this our present existence, we must not avenge
ourselves on any creature. Self-abnegation, peace of mind, renunciation
of hope, and equanimity,--these are the ways by which spiritual
enlightenment can always be secured; and the knowledge of self (one's
own spiritual nature) is the best of all knowledge. In this world as
well as hereafter, renouncing all worldly desires and assuming a stoic
indifference, wherein all suffering is at rest, people should fulfil
their religious duties with the aid of their intelligence. The _muni_