The progressive instruction of a seeker by his teacher concerning the real self

8.7.1 "The One who is free from evil, ageless, deathless, sorrowless, hungerless, thirstless, whose desire is the Real, whose purpose is the Real, He should be searched out, Him one should desire to understand. He obtains all worlds and all desires who has found out and who understands his Lord." Thus spoke the teacher.

8.7.2 Then both the righteous and the rebellious heard it. Then they said: "Come! Let us search out that Lord, by searching out whom one obtains all worlds and all desires!"

Then Maghavan from among the righteous went forth unto the teacher, and Virocana from among the rebellious. Then, without communicating with each other, the two came into the presence of the teacher, fuel in hand.

8.7.3 Then for thirty-two years the two lived the pure life of a student of sacred knowledge.

Then the teacher said to the two: "Desiring what have you been living?"

Then the two said: "The One who is free from evil, ageless, deathless, sorrowless, hungerless, thirstless, whose desire is the Real, whose purpose is the Real, He should be searched out, Him one should desire to understand. He obtains all worlds and all desires who has found out and who understands his Lord. Such do people declare to be your words, Sir. We have been living desiring Him."

8.7.4 Then the teacher said to the two: "That which sees through the eye is the soul, of which I spoke. By God's mercy it is immortal and fearless, and it returns to its Lord."

"But this one, Sir, who is observed in water and in a mirror, which one is he?"

"The same one, indeed, is seen in all these," said he.