MIND MYSTERIES & CONTROL - 38. THE MIND IN A LIBERATED SOUL - Sri Swami Sivananada - The Mind: Its Mysteries and Control

THE MIND: ITS MYSTERIES AND CONTROL - 38. THE MIND IN A LIBERATED SOUL - Sri Swami Sivananada - The Mind: Its Mysteries and Control - HQ Full Book.

The Mind in a Liberated Soul
In the journey toward spiritual realization, the mind plays an essential role, both as an obstacle and as a tool for transcending the limitations of the material world. In Chapter 38 of The Mind: Its Mysteries and Control, titled "The Mind in a Liberated Soul," Swami Sivananda delves into the nature of the mind in a liberated being—someone who has attained self-realization and reached a state of liberation while still living. Through this chapter, Swami Sivananda elucidates the profound transformation of the mind in such a soul and its ability to remain unaffected by the dualities of the material world.

The Disappearance of Attachment and the Realization of the Supreme Self
The chapter begins with a pivotal assertion: "With the disappearance of the attachment of the body and with the realization of the Supreme Self, to whatever object the mind is directed, one experiences the Deep Meditative Absorption." This statement speaks to the core of spiritual liberation. For the liberated soul, the attachment to the physical body and worldly possessions is dissolved. Such a person, having realized the Supreme Self (Brahman), can direct their mind toward any object, yet they experience a state of deep meditative absorption. This absorption arises not from attachment to the object but from the realization of the oneness of all things with the Supreme. Swami Sivananda introduces the term Amana or "without mind," explaining that the condition of Amanaskata represents a state where the mind itself is absent. This "mindlessness" is not an absence of awareness or consciousness, but rather a profound stillness that is characteristic of the highest level of spiritual attainment. The liberated soul experiences this state of Amanaskata, where the mind no longer governs their actions or perceptions. This condition can be found in the lives of great sages who have transcended the limitations of mental and emotional fluctuations.

Residual Purity and the Role of the Mind in a Liberated Soul
One of the central ideas Swami Sivananda conveys is the notion of Residual Purity in a liberated soul. While the instinctive and worldly desires of the mind are eradicated, there remains a spiritual Pure mind that retains a residue of purity. This residue is the cause of intelligence and serves as a tool for worldly interactions. Even after achieving self-realization, the mind of the liberated soul does not become annihilated. Instead, it continues to serve as an instrument for the individual's engagement with the world, allowing them to perform actions for the greater good without attachment. Swami Sivananda uses the example of Raja Janaka, a historical figure who attained self-realization yet continued to engage in worldly duties for the welfare of others. Similarly, he references Sri Rama and Sri Krishna, who, despite their divine nature and realization of the Supreme, utilized their minds and bodies as instruments to govern and guide humanity. These examples highlight that the liberated soul does not renounce the world or the mind; rather, they transcend the limitations of ego and use the mind for selfless service.

The Nature of Existence and the Role of the Mind in Perception
In the state of liberation, Swami Sivananda clarifies that while the empirical world appears to vanish, it is not annihilated. Instead, the Empirical Existence—the world perceived through the senses—ceases to exist in the way it is perceived by the unenlightened mind. The liberated soul no longer sees the world through the limited lens of space, time, and causality. The Existence-Reality, however, remains...