19. The world is a non-entity, and the error of its entity, is caused by our ignorance of the nature of God from the very beginning of creation. In our dream of the world, we see many terrific aspects of ghosts and the like; but our knowledge of its non-entity, and of the vanity of worldliness, dispel all our fears and cares about it.
20. As our single self-consciousness, sees many things in itself; so does it behold an endless variety of forms, appearing in the infinite vacuity of the Divine Mind.
21. As the many lighted lamps in a room, combine to emit one great blaze of light; so the appearance of this multiform creation, displays the Omnipotence of one Almighty Power.
22. The creation is as the bursting bubble, or foam and froth of the mantling ocean of omnipotence; it appears as a wood and wilderness in the clouded face of the firmament, but disappears in the clear vacuous atmosphere of the Divine Mind; and there is no speck nor spot of creation in the infinite ocean of the Supreme Intellect.
CHAPTER CLXXX.
Brahma Gítá or the story on Austere Devotee.
Argument:—Vasishtha’s elucidation of the story of Kunda-danta at the request of Ráma.
Ráma rejoined:—I pray you sir, to remove the shade of a doubt from my mind, as the sunshine dispels the darkness from before it; in order to bring to light whatever is dark and obscure in the world.
2. I beheld once a self-governed ascetic, who came to the seminary, where I was sitting amidst the synod of the sages and learned men, and conversing on subjects of theology and divinity.
3. He was a learned Bráhman, and of a godly appearance; he came from the land of the Videhas or the Mithilas, and was practiced in religious austerities, and was as unbearable in the lustre of his person as the terrific seer Durvásas self.
4. On entering the assembly, he made his obeisance to the illustrious persons; when we also saluted him in return and advanced his seat for him to sit down.