Listen, O noble one, to the story of tranquility and discernment as revealed in the ancient scripture. There is a peace so profound that, even when one beholds something dearer than life itself, the joy felt cannot compare to the joy of meeting a person who is truly serene and composed. Such a person, who lives righteously with self-control and inner calm, is truly alive in this world and honored by all—none else can claim this distinction. When a humble and peaceful soul performs a good deed, all beings rejoice, their hearts gladdened by the presence of such virtue. The one who, upon hearing, touching, seeing, eating, or smelling what is pleasant or unpleasant, neither exults nor is cast down, is known as peaceful. Equanimity marks the one who is the same in all situations, who neither seeks nor rejects, and who, through effort, has mastered the senses—this is the hallmark of peace. Imagine, even in the midst of death, celebration, or battle, a mind as clear and undisturbed as the autumn moon—such a one is truly peaceful. There are those who, though remaining in one place, seem unattached, who neither rejoice nor grow angry, whose mind is at ease, as if in deep sleep—these are the tranquil. Their gaze, gentle and affectionate like the flow of nectar, extends to all people, and their actions, both inward and outward, are guided by a mind that is clear and pure. Even in the face of terrible calamities or the end of an age, when all seems to burn, the tranquil mind remains unaffected and insignificant, not swayed by events. Such a person has attained inner coolness, does not sink into the waves of mental states, and acts in the world without confusion. Their mind, ever engaged in its own actions, remains as spotless as the sky. Among ascetics, the learned, those who perform sacrifices, kings, the strong, and the virtuous, it is the tranquil one who shines above all. In the minds of the great, who are endowed with virtue and absorbed in tranquility, contentment arises naturally from consciousness, just as moonlight emanates from the cool-rayed moon. Equanimity is the boundary of all virtues, the unique ornament of true manliness, and the place of fearlessness in difficulties—it shines forth, resplendent. Rama, just as the great ones attained the highest state by relying on supreme, immortal, unstealable, and noble-favored equanimity, so too should you steadily follow that path to success. To walk this path, one must first know the causes, purify the mind with clear understanding of scripture, and practice self-control—then, with such preparation, begin inquiry. Through inquiry, the intellect becomes sharp and perceives the supreme state, for inquiry is the great medicine for the long-standing disease of worldly existence. The forest of calamity, fed by endless desires, is cut down by the saw of inquiry and does not grow again. In times of delusion, loss, hardship, and confusion, inquiry is the wise person’s true path. Without inquiry, there is no means at all for supreme peace; through inquiry, the noble mind abandons the unwholesome and attains the wholesome. Strength, intelligence, brilliance, discernment, and the fruit of action—all these arise in the wise solely through inquiry. With the great lamp of discernment, which distinguishes the proper from the improper and fulfills all desires, one should cross the ocean of worldly existence, relying on expansive inquiry. The pure mind, like a noble lion of discernment, tears apart the great elephant of delusion whose heart has not yet been wounded. There are those, deluded by the force of time, who nevertheless attain the supreme state—this is the highest manifestation of the lamp of inquiry. Kingdoms, abundant wealth, immense enjoyment, and eternal liberation—these, O Raghava, are the fruits of the wish-fulfilling tree of discernment. The noble thoughts of the great, delighting in discrimination, do not sink in adversity, just as gourds do not sink in water. Those who act with minds illuminated by the rising of discernment become vessels for exceedingly noble fruits. Meanwhile, the creepers of suffering grow in the hearts of fools, in the forests where hope is blocked and the trees of discernment do not exist. May the sleep of non-inquiry, dark as lamp-black and intoxicating like wine, come to an end for you, O Raghava. Even in great and prolonged calamities, a person devoted to true inquiry does not sink into delusion, just as a mass of light does not become lost in darkness. In the clear lake of the mind, one whose lotus of inquiry has blossomed shines like the snowy Himalayas. But for one whose intellect lacks inquiry and has fallen into dullness, even thunderbolts are in vain, like a Yaksha’s moon for a child. Rama, avoid the person devoid of discrimination, for he is like a mound of sorrow, a termite hill, or honey spoiled by rotten creepers. Those who are difficult to approach, of bad conduct, and hard to trust, shine only through lack of inquiry, like goblins in darkness. O descendant of Raghu, keep far away from the undiscriminating person, who is like an old tree, unfit for good deeds. For a being, the mind that is isolated and free from the compulsion of desire attains supreme contentment, like a full moon shining in itself. The discrimination that arises cools the entire body and adorns it greatly, as new moonlight beautifies the world. Reason shines forth as the pure white yak-tail fan for the banner of supreme truth, just as the moon glows in the night. The states of being that move with reason, dispelling the ten directions, shine like the sun, having destroyed the multitude of fears born of repeated existence. Thus, the path of tranquility and discernment is revealed—a path of inquiry, equanimity, and the peace that is the highest blessing.