Avadhuta - Chapter 1 verse 34

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(translator - Swami Chetanananda)

 

In Brahman there are neither the Vedas nor worlds nor gods nor sacrifices;

there are neither stages of life nor castes nor race nor lineage; there is

neither the path of smoke nor the path of light. Only the selfsame Brahman,

the Supreme Reality, exists.

 

(comments)

 

Stages of life - Brahmacharya (life of a student), garhasthya (life of a

householder), vanaprastha (life of a recluse), and sannyasa (life of a monk).

 

Castes - Brahmin (priest), kshatriya (warrior), vaishya (businessman), and

shudra (labourer).

 

Path of smoke - Smoke, night, the dark half of the moon, and the six months

of the southward passage of the sun - taking this path, the soul reaches the

lunar path and thence returns to this world to be born again.

 

Path of light - Fire, light, daytime, the bright half of the moon, and the

six months of the northward passage of the sun - taking this path, the soul

reaches the abode of Brahma and gradually attains liberation. He then does

not return to this world for rebirth.