SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 20 SEPTEMBER THE LIBERATED SAGE

If the vasanas (tendencies) and the attachment to objects of the
world vanish entirely, and if you are in that immovable state, then
you have become a jivanmukta (liberated sage). You will abide in your
own self. You will rest in that non­dual, supreme seat. The jnana-
vision will arise in you, the light of wisdom will shine unobscured,
like the sun in the absence of clouds. You will never be attracted to
any worldly objects now. You will be absolutely freed from delusion
and sorrow.

You will actually feel that the self alone pervades and permeates
everywhere in the world. You will shine with Brahmic effulgence. You
will possess equal­vision and a balanced mind. You will be free from
longing for sensual objects because the mind will always remain cool
with Brahmic bliss. You will be bathed in the cool ambrosial nectar
that dribbles from the contented and quiet mind.

Advanced aspirants should stop all sorts of work and study of
religious books, if they want to enter into samadhi quickly. They
should observe mouna and remain in a solitary place on the banks of
the Ganges, the Yamuna or any other suitable river. They should live
on one and a half pints of milk alone, or they should live on milk
and fruits alone. They should plunge themselves into samadhi in right
earnest.

They should reduce sleep to two or three hours. They should start the
practice at the beginning of winter. There is real rest in
meditation - it is far superior to that rest obtained in deep sleep.
Sound sleep for an hour or even half an hour will suffice the man who
meditates regularly.

Samadhi, moksa (liberation), turiya (transcendental state), are
synonymous terms. Samadhi means superconsciousness. In samadhi the
meditator is conscious of his own self. Moksa is freedom from birth
and death. It is the attainment of the state of `paramananda'
(supreme bliss). It is freedom from all sorts of pains. Turiya
transcends the three states ­ the waking state, the dream state and
the deep sleep state ­ and so it is called the fourth state.