35. It is the conception of the mind, that makes the salt seem sweet to taste, by its giving a flavour to the salted food for our zest and delight.
36. It is our conception, that makes us see a forest in the fog, or a tower in the clouds; appearing to the sight of the observer to be rising and falling by turns.
37. In this manner whatever shape the imagination gives to a thing, it appears in the same visionary form before the sight of the mind; therefore knowing this world of your imagination, as neither a reality nor unreality, forbear to view it and its various shapes and colours, as they appear to view.
CHAPTER LXXXXIII.
A View of the Genesis of the mind and Body.
Argument. First Birth of the Mind, and then that of Light. Next grew the Ego, and thence came out the World.
Vasishtha said:—I will now tell you Ráma! What I was instructed of yore by lord Brahmá himself. (The prime progenitor of mankind and propounder of the Vedas).
2. From the unspeakable Brahmá, there sprang all things in their undefinable ideal state, and then the Spirit of God being condensed by His Will, it came to be produced of itself in the form of the Mind. (The volitive and creative agency of God).
3. The Mind formed the notions of the subtile elementary principles in itself, and became a personal agent (with its power of volition or creative will). The same became a luminous body and was known as Brahmá the first Male. (Purusha or Protogonus—Pratha-janya or Prathamajanita).
4. Therefore know Ráma, this same Brahmá to be the Parameshthi or situated in the Supreme, and being a personification of the Will of God, is called the Mind.
5. The Mind therefore known as the Lord Brahmá, is a form of the Divine essence, and being full of desires in itself, sees all its wills (in their ideal forms), present before it.