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Spiritual Enlightenment
anything other than Shiva will not lead one to the bliss of liberation. Apparently the body looks nice; but (as to its real nature) it gets rotten when buried, and it is reduced to ashes when burnt. Anointing, decorating and sumptuously feeding the body serve no purpose like obligations bestowed on the wicked. This body is like dilapidated Narak-graha (filth-house) full of filth, and as such it deserves no attachment. As if with vengeance the fate has fashioned this body out of all that is miserable, sinful and filthy. It is shameful to enjoy the loathsome body; the wise should take delight in Dharma purifying their selves. The saints should not be attached to this body which brings no good to them; they should realise Atman which is an embodiment of knowledge separate from the body. Attachment can never bring eternal happiness. (144153)
One should be satisfied with that happiness which entirely depends on one's self; pleasures from external accessories will never remove (further) desires. Atman should be realized as essentially constituted of knowledge, and there should be no attachment for anything else. If the mental waters are not disturbed by pleasures and passion, the Atman immediately becomes pure. Of no avail is that Yoga which does not separate the self from others after suppressing or curbing the mind at once. Omniscience cannot be attained by meditating on anything other than the self, the embodiment of knowledge. The saints who meditate on Shunya-pada (a point of meditation devoid of disturbances), who do not identify themselves with anything foreign, who have neither Punya nor Papa and who populate the (so far) deserted (attitude) and desert the (so far) inhabited (attitude), deserve all respect. (154-160)
In response to Prabhakara's question the author says: There in that meditation, delusion is smashed to pieces and the mind sets into steadiness, when the breath issuing from the nostrils melts back into Ambara. When one dwells in the Ambara delusion melts, mental activities are no more, inhalation and exhalation are stopped and even omniscience develops. He who concentrates his mind, which is as extensive as the physical
