In Search of Essence

1. There is a great wealth that is hidden, but what do the servants know of it? They only have the knowledge of what is seen on the outside.
2. A great treasure is kept hidden, but only many outwardly visible things are seen. The wise ones know to search for one's inherent wealth within.
3. Like this, the visible appearances are illusory. All people are looking only at Illusion. However, those who know how to use discrimination know how to see beyond appearances.
4. When a treasure is kept inside a lake that is filled with water, the people seeing it say that the lake is filled with only water. Those with the capacity to know understand what is really inside.
5. Similarly, only the Knowledgeable Ones (Jnanis) are capable of knowing the Supreme Truth, while others are selfish in their pursuit of visible objects.
6. The laborers carry heavy loads, but only the rich people enjoy the profits of precious gems. Like this, everyone gets according to their fate.
7. Some make their living out of collecting wood and some collect cowdung. However, the truly wealthy are not like that, they enjoy the Essence.
8. Those who utilize the power of investigative thought become seated on a platform of happiness, while others feel close to the burden of the world and die while carrying it.
9. Some eat the divine food (of Self-Knowledge), and some eat feces while taking pride in (the identification with) their accomplishments.
10. The Essence is taken by the great ones while others fruitlessly carry the burden of the non-essential. Those who are knowledgeable understand the Essence and the non-essential.
11. Hidden are the wish-fulfilling stones of alchemy while the pebbles and glass beads lie out in the open. Hidden are the mines of gold and precious gems while stones and mud are out in the open.
12. A conch that turns to the right side, the vine that grows in the right direction, and precious herbs are hidden, while common shells and castor and thorn apple plants are readily seen out in the open.
13. A wish-fulfilling tree is not seen anywhere, but the common milk bush trees are spread around everywhere in plenty. Seeing the scented sandalwood tree is rare, but the berries and trees of the gum arabic tree are plentiful.
14. The divine wish-fulfilling cow is known to Lord Indra while the common people see only the world filled with ordinary cattle. Kings enjoy according to their fate and other people according to their fates.
15. People do all sorts of various businesses and call themselves rich, but no one can compare their wealth to that of the "God of Wealth."
16. Like that is the Knowledge of the realized one. He is the God of the hidden treasure while others are slaves to their bellies who constantly seek out different opinions.
17. It is the Essence that is unseen and only the non-essential that is seen by people. This understanding regarding the Eternal and the ephemeral is known to the sages.
18. What is the point of telling this to ordinary people? Who among them knows the True from the false? The saints and sages know the signs of saints and sages.
19. One cannot see the hidden treasure unless one's vision is made clear. The Supreme Self that is hidden should be sought in the company of saints and virtuous people.
20. In the company of rich people, one can easily become rich. Similarly, by keeping the company of saints, Reality is easily realized.
21. Reality meets Reality while confusion meets with confusion. When looking with correct thinking one comes into correct thoughtfulness.
22. With right thought, the entire visible world is seen to be ephemeral. The Supreme Self is changeless and endless, and is different from all visible appearances.
23. Paramatman is different from the visible and within the visible. It is the Self that permeates the entire animate and inanimate creation. One gains conviction within when seeing with right thought.
24. Without abandoning the family life, and without giving up the title of a householder, the life being lived among people can only become fulfilled by utilizing right thought.
25. This advice is based on experience. One should gain experience using the power of discrimination. Those who see experientially this way are wise and others are not.
26. There is a great difference between one’s own direct experience versus theory, or funds in credit versus money in cash, or direct perception of God versus a mental concept of God.
27. The concept that realization will be in the future or in the next life, like some obligation to be paid by God in the future, is totally without substance. The power of discrimination between the Eternal and the ephemeral, where one's gain is immediate, is not like that.
28. With right thought the benefit is immediate. The living being is freed from worldly life and all the doubts about birth and death are wiped away.
29. In this very life, one can be aloof from worldly life and immediately attain liberation in the moment and remain permanently established in one’s True Nature.
30. One who disagrees with this statement as being baseless, even if he is one who is accomplished, will experience a downfall. To the one who says that this is false, I swear to them it is true on the strength of my worship.
31. This talk is full of deep meaning. Become liberated quickly through the power of discrimination. Be among the people, but don't be anything at all (be in the world while being out of it).
32. The state of God is attributeless. Stabilization in the state of God is itself the meaning of complete pervasive contentment.
33. One becomes "without a body" (videha) even though within the body, and even though one is doing, he is not doing anything. The signs of the liberated ones are known by the liberated ones.
34. For others, what has been said does not appear to be true. By only utilizing guesswork and imagination one always feels doubtful. The root of doubts are cleared away by the teachings of the True Master, the Sadguru.