January 19, 2015
translated by Anubhavananda Saraswati [available at Exotic India].
- You are neither the earth, water, fire, air nor space. For attaining liberation, recognize yourself to be the witnessing Consciousness of all these.
- If you dis-identify from the body, you abide in the consciousness, right away, you are bliss, peace and liberated from bondage.
- …You are neither an object of sense organs too. You are essentially unattached, formless and the witness of the universe. Recognizing thus yourself, be happy.
- I am immaculate pure consciousness. …
Ashtavakra Gita is different than the Bhagavad Gita in that Arjuna’s concerns are on the battlefield, in the outer world. The Ashtavakra Gita is directed at those who are done with ‘fighting with the outer world’ and now are facing the challenge from within. When we are no longer bothered by the outer world and yet we are not at peace with ourselves, we may keep on struggling. Even when we understand the Truth, we may require further enlightenment.
Anubhavananda Saraswati talks on the Ashtavakra Gita, 1-20: