35. As the ink ceases to be ink, without its inky blackness, so the mind ceases to exist, without the action of its mental operations.
36. Cessation of mental operation, is attended with desinence of thought, and quiescence of the mind, is accompanied with discontinuance of actions. The liberated are free from both of these; but the unemancipate from neither. (i.e. The liberated are devoid of the thoughts and actions, which are concomitants with one another).
37. The mind is ever united with its activity as the fire with its heat, and the want of either of these, is attended to worldlings with the extinction of both.
38. The mind being ever restless in itself, becomes identified with the actions proceeding from its activity. The actions also whether good or bad, become identified with the mind, which feels their just rewards and punishments. Hence you see Ráma! The inseparable connection of the mind and acts, in reciprocating their actions and reactions upon each other.
CHAPTER LXXXXVI.
Inquiry into the Nature of Mind.
As the Ego, the subjective and really existent entity.
Argument. The Faculties of the Mind, and their Various Functions and appellations.
Vasishtha said:—The mind is mere thought, and thought is the mind in motion (literally, having the property of fluctuation). Its actions are directed by the nature of the thoughts (lit. according to the nature of the objects of thought); and the result of the acts is felt by every body in his mind.
2. Ráma said:—Sir, I pray you will explain in length, regarding the immaterial mind as opposed to the material body, and its inseparable property of will or volition (contrary to the inertness of dull matter).
3. Vasishtha replied:—The nature of the mind is known to be composed of the property of Volition, which is an attribute of the infinite and almighty power of the Supreme soul. (i.e. The mind is the volitive principle of the soul).
4. The mind is known to be of the form of that self-moving principle, which determines the dubitation of men between the affirmative and negative sides (as whether it is so or not dwikotika). i.e. The principle of rationality or the Reasoning faculty, consisting of the two great alternatives; viz. 1. The principle of contradiction: or of two contradictory propositions of which one is true, and the other untrue, i.e. Is, or, is not. 2. Raison determinantic or determining by a priori reasoning, as, why so and not otherwise.