12. Thou canst have no concern with the visible objects (phenomenal world); for what concern can one have with any earthly thing which is inexistent of itself as an unsubstantial shadow?
13. The world is an unreality like thyself, hence there can be no true relation between two unrealities. It is but a logomachy to maintain the relation of two negatives to one another.
14. Granting, thou art a reality and the world is unreal, still there can be no agreement between you, as there is none between the living and the dead, and between the positive and negative ideas.
15. Should the mind and the world be both of them realities and co-existent for ever, then there can be no reason for the joy or sorrow of the one at the gain or loss of the other.
16. Now therefore avoid the great malady of worldliness, and enjoy the silent joy in thyself, like one sitting in the undisturbed depth of the Ocean, with the rolling tide and waves above his head.
17. Do not consume like a puppet in pyrotechnics with the fiery remorse of worldliness, nor be burnt down to the darkness of despair in this gloomy scene of the world.
18. O wicked mind! there is nothing here so good and great, whereby thou mayest attain thy high perfection, except by the forsaking of all frivolities and dependance on thy entire resignation to the unchangeable One.
CHAPTER XII.
ON THE GREATNESS OF INTELLIGENCE.
Argument. The Living Liberation of Janaka, and the pre-eminence of reason and intelligence.
Vasishtha continued:—Janaka having expostulated in his manner with his mind, attended to the affairs of the state without shrinking from them by his mental abstraction.