~~Ashtavakra-3.~~

~~~~~~~~~~~ ASHTAVAKRA-3 ~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~अष्टावक्र-3~~~~~~~~~~~~~


________________________
************************

  Ashtavakra Gita (अष्टावक्र गीता / अष्टावक्र संहिता) ( or 
as sometimes it is called 'Ashtavakra Samhita' also) 
inculcates the essence of the highest knowledge of
Advata. It deals with the actual realization of the 
eternal Atman (Self), which is not something that 
dawns only when this world is renounced ; or when 
it does not exist or ceases to be  perceived as when 
one is said to go to another sphere after death ; or 
when one is in yogic samadhi ; or when one is other-
wise unconscious as in deep sleep. But it is attained
in the highest stage when one is in the very midst of 
the world, perceiving or the feeling the objects in it,
even as King Janaka while actually ruling his kingdom,
did attain, following the teachings of Rishi Ashtavakra.
   "Seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, taking, 
speaking and walking, the great-souled one, free from 
all efforts and non-efforts, is verily emancipated." 
(XVII,12.)
"The wise one who lives on happily doing what comes 
to one to be done, does not feel troubled either in 
activity or inactivity."
(XVIII,20.)
"For the wise man there is nothing to be renounced 
nor accepted nor destroyed." 
(VI, 4.)
"The man of Knowledge lives like other men of the 
world."
(XVIII, 18.)
"Only those like him can understand him." (XVIII, 18.)"
Such a person ever feels his oneness with the ALL.
"The man of knowledge does not feel any desire for
the dissolution of the universe or aversion to its 
existence." 
(XVII, 7.)
In fact, the highest knower (Jnanin) realizes at all 
times that whatever exists is nothing but his very self,
the Atman or Brahman.
Ashtavakra further furnishes the key to the means 
of attaining this supreme knowledge in the words "As
one thinks, so one becomes." 
(I, 10).
But the steps, as may be gathered from the following 
verses, require the hardest and the most patient efforts
to climb Till the ego "I" is effaced, the Truth cannot be 
known. 
(VIII, 4. XVI, 10 and XVIII, 73.)
If you desire liberation ( from the bondage of 
ignorance), my child, shun the objects of senses like 
poison, and seek forgiveness, sincerity, kindness, 
contentment and truth like nectar." 
(I, 1.)
"In whatever you perceive you alone appear. 
Completely give up all such distinctions as 'I am He' 
and 'I am not this.'
Consider all as thy self."
(XV, 15.)
"The man of ignorance does not attain peace either 
by action or by inaction. The wise becomes happy by
merely ascertaining the Truth." 
(XVIII, 34.)


~~~~~~~~~~~~OM TAT SAT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ॐ तत् सत् ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


___________________________
***************************