16. Moreover it is your habitual conversation, regarding the unity or duality of the sole entity; and forgetfulness of our pure spiritual and intellectual bodies, that you were blind to the sight of the reality, and I had a dim glimpse of it.
17. I have by my long habit of thinking, learnt to look upon this world in the light of an etherial plant (which is nothing); I never view it as you do to be a reality, but as a dim reflection of the ideal reality.
18. The world that appeared before so conspicuous to my sight, I find it now appearing as indistinct to me as a shadow of the same cast upon a glass.
19. It is owing to our prejudice in favour of the false doctrine of old, regarding the personality of the body; that we have missed the ease of our reliance in the spiritual body, and thus fallen in the deep darkness of delusion.
20. Whatever we are habituated to think in our internal minds, the same grows forth and takes a deep root in the heart, under the moistening influence of the intellectual soul; and mind becomes of the nature, as the force of early habit forms the youth.
21. There is nothing which is likely to be effected, either by the precepts of the best sástras, or the dictates of right reason, unless they are made effectual by constant application and practice of them. (Theoretical knowledge is useless without practice).
22. Your erroneous speech regarding the nihility of the world in this empty space, proceeded only from your constant habit of thinking the reality of the false world, which was about to mislead me also. Be now wise that you have overcome your previous prejudice, and known the present truth.
23. Know, O sage, that it is your habitual thinking of a thing as such, that makes it appear so to you; just as a mechanic master’s art is by his constant practice of the same under the direction of its professor.
24. The erroneous conceptions of this thing and that, and of the existence of the material world, and the reality of one’s egoism and personality; are all obviated by culture of spiritual knowledge, and by force of the constant habit of viewing all things in their spiritual light.
25. I am but a weak and young disciple to thee, and yet see the stony world too well, which thou with thy all knowingness dost not perceive; and this is because of my habit of thinking it otherwise than thou art practiced to do.