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Istopadeśa – The Golden Discourse
किमिदं कीदृशं कस्य कस्मात्क्वेत्यविशेषयन् । स्वदेहमपि नावैति योगी योगपरायणः ॥
(42)
The Yogi engrossed in self-realization is far removed from all inquisitive dispositions about the soul, such as, what is it? what is its nature? whom does it belong to? where does it come from? and where does it reside? He is free from the awareness of even his body.
EXPLANATORY NOTES
The Self and the karmic bondage are differentiated on the basis of their own intrinsic nature. These two are chiselled (separated) with the help of the instrument of self-discrimination. The karmic bondage should be discarded and the pure soul ought to be realized. Through self-discrimination, the Yogi realizes that 'I' is really the ‘pure consciousness' and all other dispositions are alien to him. He contemplates that the object of self-realization is just the Self. All thoughts on any other object, including the body, disappear. The soul ventures into the depth of its own pure nature where there are no wavering thoughts. Immersed in the deep and vast ocean of soulhappiness, unruffled by any thoughts or passions, the self-absorbed soul enjoys rapturous rhythm of bliss indescribable. No outside
ency, not even one's own body, can be of any help in reaching to this state of soul-happiness.
The soul devoid of devotion to the Self is not in its pristine nature. Any lapse from the condition of self-devotion is necessarily a fault, which becomes the cause of the inflow and bondage of karmic matter, virtuous and wicked. From the pure point of view,
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