Once in the midst of conversation, Vasishta spoke thus to Rama: "Listen, O, Rama, the Valiant! The Jiva is a bull reclining under the shade (Moha) of a vastly spreading tree in the forest, Samsara. It is bound by the rope of Desire and so it is infected by the fleas and insects of unrest, worry and disease. It rolls in the mire of wrong, while struggling in the dark night of ignorance to slake the thirst of the senses. Then, some good men who are wise untie it and take it out of the dark recesses of the forest. Through Viveka and Vichara, one achieves Vijnana; and through Vijnana, one is able to grasp the Truth, to realise the Atma, to know the Atma. That is the ultimage goal of all Life, the stage that is beyond the Past, Present and Future".

But one point has to be clearly noted and remembered always: mere giving up external activities connected with the satisfaction of sensory desires is not enough; the internal cravings have to be uprooted. The word Thrishna covers both these, the internal promptings and the external actions. When all promptings cease, it is called Mukthathrishna. Knowledge of the Atma and faith in the Atma - these alone can destroy the irrelevant thirsts.

When the Jnani declares, 'I am Brahmam', he is uttering the truth from the reality of his experience. When the gross and the subtle are transcended, when the Manas, the Buddhi and the Prana are sublimated, that is to say, when the Self is no longer bound by feelings, thoughts, impulses and instincts, what remains is Sath only. Existence - pure and unalloyed, Parabrahmam. Hence, the Jnani feels one with the Omnipresent, the Omnipotent; while the uneducated, un-initiated, person who has not taught himself the first steps of Sadhana feels he is one with his physical frame.

Sath-Chith-Ananda - the expression indicates the Eternal. Niraakaara means without Aakaara or Form. What form can we posit for the All-pervasive, the All-inclusive? 'Paras' or 'Param' means super, beyond, above, more glorious than all. Parabrahmam indicates the One beyond and behind everything, grander than anything in the three worlds. It is non-dual, unique, eternal and infinite. 'Two' means difference, dissension, inevitable discord. Since Brahmam is all pervasive, It is One and only One. It is Indivisible and Indestructible.

Realising this is 'Jnanam', the 'Highest Wisdom'.