Ashtavakra Gita 18.10 -

Life is constantly experiential. All experiencing is inner, in the mind level. Mind ideates, figurates. From ideation arise words and thoughts to express it. From figuration emerge various forms and shapes, denoting all the amazing variety we deal with.

In all this, the mind-substance alone is. Let it think, feel, imagine, and become, also not do any of these. Wakeful state alone is full of all these. Sleep is totally devoid of everything. In dream, mind internalizes all experiences, without any outside help, proving it is distinct from the body, senses and the world we are in.

By doing all these repetitively, mind has not changed at all. No thought, feeling, knowledge or memory affects its nature, however much you may think to the contrary. All modifications together result in only sukha and duḥkha. These do not change the basic mind. Therefore, what is your trouble and torment for?

None examines the inner processes, which have no power to scar or dent the mind, as our daily sleep evidences. Despite millions of thoughts, mind is still vigorous to think again.

The yogi realizes this, and hence transcends the effects of all external and internal functions and transitions. He courses through all, but immersed in the underscoring quietitude. Strive discreetly for such a state. Even in dream, aspire to float in the ecstasy of spiritual freedom and sameness.

What more? Often dream occurs in sleep. While the wakeful personality lies intact on bed, the inner spiritual presence in the sleeping body produces another body as well as another wakeful world, in which it lives, moves acts variously. The dreamer has hunger, which his dream food appeases. There is no doubt that the sleeping Consciousness alone creates the dream world with its potential and magnitude.

The same inner Consciousness alone causes the wakeful world also. That the wakeful world is gross, holds no meaning, as the entire wakeful perceptions and experiences are within the body, in the mind, where no grossness or physicality is possible. When dream breaks off, nothing of it survives too!

As the wakeful state also breaks every day and sleep overtakes, of what relevance is any norm, standard or value? Whether you are affluent or living by alms, you meet gain or loss, what does it matter? The Knower becomes nirvikalpaḥ, free of doubt. Nirvikalpa-samadhi is an outcome arising when mental functions dissolve in their very source. It is a still state of absorption, sthita-prajñatā, as Gita puts it (2.55 ). Here, the Knower’s mind itself becomes nirvikalpa, doubt-free. Doubt is the ultimate hurdle in spiritual seeking.

What doubts? ‘Have I realized the truth? Is this the finale or is there something else? Should I strive more?’ No doubt, enquiry or confirmation of this kind will be there for the Knower.

As there is only one, none can slip into another. No comparison or contrast arises. Whether you admit it or not, this One alone is. Hence there is no ground for any doubt. Knower’s mind itself becomes nirvikalpa, as different from the nirvikalpa-state. He finds nothing special. What an exalted state of freedom and fullness!