Essential Philosophy of Hinduism Buddhism and Jainism

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Z_Selected_Speeches_of_V_R_Gandhi_002018.pdf

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and thunder are without body (without hands, feet, etc.). Now as these arising from the heavenly ether appear in their own form, as soon as they have approached the highest light, thus does that serene being, arising from this body, appear in its own form, as soon as it has approached the highest light-the knowledge of the Self. He in that state is the highest person. He moves about there laughing, playing and rejoicing, be it with women, carriages or relations, never minding the body into which he was born. Like a horse attached to a cart, the spirit is attached to the body. Now where the sight has entered into the void, there is the person of the eye, the eye itself is but the instrument of seeing. He who knows let me smell this, he is the Self, the nose is but the instrument of smelling. He who knows let me say this, he is the Self, the tongue is but the instrument of saying. He who knows let me hear this, he is the Self, the ear is but the instrument of hearing. He who knows let me think this, he is the Self, the mind is but the divine eye. He the Self, seeing these pleasures (which to others are hidden like a buried treasure of gold) through his divine eye, i.e., through the mind, rejoices. He who knows that Self and understands it, obtains all worlds and all desires." Indra was satisfied by this explanation, went to the gods and taught them this doctrine.
This dialogue is so plain that I need not explain its esoteric meaning. It is on this dialogue that the various sub-divisions of the Vedāntic philosophy have offered different interpretations. We will take
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