Yoga Vasistha Chapter 1 Verse 1

I.1 “Verily, birds are able to fly with their two wings: even so both work and knowledge together lead to the supreme goal of liberation. Not indeed works alone nor indeed knowledge alone can lead to liberation: but both of them together form the means to liberation.”

Liberation of consciousness, also known as enlightenment, is the essence of our being. To be liberated is to be free. Enlightenment is complete freedom from all limitations. Once the knowledge of being free arises, we can then act from that knowledge. Actions are then free from compulsion and aversion, and are synergistically supportive of Self-knowledge.

Knowledge of one’s Self as an unconditioned limitless being provides proper perspective in relating to the temporary conditions of human existence. When the confusion arises that the passing experiences in life are the truth of what we are, ignorance is in effect. Living from a state of Self knowledge there is no need to cling or act irrationally. Life then proceeds freely and without strain, making all experiences more enjoyable because all experiences are then in proper perspective to our true Self.

No matter the state in which we find our self, as long as it is conditioned in some manner, this indicates a cause for the condition. Causes are the energies that empower present experiences. We may not always know the exact reason our consciousness is conditioned in a certain way, but having the knowledge that attachment to the condition enforces the condition, we can then choose to release the attachment. Then the conditioning is no longer supported and is allowed to exhaust its energy and thereby dissolve.

Action that is performed while centered in Self-knowledge is the work that provides the means to liberation. All other action is binding and limiting. When a person acts out of desire or compulsion, that desire becomes stronger due to reinforcement. When a person acts out of fear or aversion, the aversion is further strengthened. In both instances, conditioning and limitation grow. Centered in Self-knowledge, any action is performed in neutrality, neither out of desire nor fear.

Abandoning living the life created through our past actions in favor of practices that promote Self-knowledge is often a misguided attempt to escape the life we have created. Needing to escape a situation implies aversion to that situation, and further indicates lack of Self-knowledge. A balanced approach of interacting with the circumstances of life while also giving priority to developing Self-knowledge is the means to liberation of consciousness. Then Self-knowledge is stable to express no matter the conditions in which we find ourselves. Liberated souls live in this way.

To act in the world is to function in duality, the constant flux of opposites: pleasure, pain, light, dark, happy, sad, detached, attached, action and inaction. Enlightenment is both beyond and encompassing of the duality. A fully liberated person is not concerned with these opposites and experiences them as they occur, seeing them as a temporary manifestation of one wholly integrated reality. Liberated people know the truth of what they are beyond conditioning, and act from that realization allowing circumstances to be what they are while acting appropriately, free of compulsion or aversion. Utilizing both our wings, knowledge of what we are at the core of our being and work (freely performed actions) in the world, allow us to live as enlightened people do, and actualize our complete liberation of consciousness.