Chapter Eight


Ashtavakra said:

It is only he who is contented, with his senses not attached to their objects, and who revels in his oneness with the universe, who can be considered as having become a jnani and a yogi.  (157)

O, the Knower of Truth never experiences misery in this world, for the whole universe is filled by himself.  (158)

The sense-objects no longer have any attraction for the one who abides in the Self, just as the bitter leaves of the neem tree cannot please an elephant who can enjoy the sallaki leaves.  (159)

Rare in the world is the one on whom experiences do not leave any impressions, and who does not hanker after any experiences still to be enjoyed.  (160)

It is possible to find in this world those who crave sensual gratification, and also those who hanker after enlightenment.  But rare, indeed, is the great soul who cares neither for material enjoyment, nor spiritual enlightenment.  (161)

Missing aphorism  (162)

The man of wisdom does not wish for the dissolution of the universe, nor is he interested in its continuance.  The blessed one lives perfectly contented with whatever turns up in life.  (163)

In consequence of this supreme understanding, with the split-mind healed into its wholeness, the wise one lives happily in contentment, seeing, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting.  (164)

He has neither attachment nor aversion for objects in this world, and so, is not buffeted about in the sea of samsara.  His mind is vacant, his actions are without personal motivation, and his senses are not attracted to their objects.  (165)

The wise one neither keeps awake, nor does he sleep, and his eyes are neither open nor closed.  The liberated soul enjoys the state in any circumstances.  (166)

The liberated one is found to be always abiding in the Self.  Pure in heart, he lives free of all conditioning in any circumstances.  (167)

Seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting, accepting, speaking, walking, the great-souled one, free from all effort and non-effort, is, indeed, emancipated.  (168)

The liberated one neither abuses nor praises.  He neither rejoices, nor is he angry.  He neither gives nor receives.  He is free from attachment to any object.  (169)

The sight of a voluptuous woman or that of approaching death leaves the great-souled one, established in the Self, equally unperturbed.  He is, indeed, liberated.  (170)

The steady one, who sees the same everywhere, does not differentiate between happiness and misery, man and woman, prosperity and adversity.  (171)

In the wise one, whose attachment to worldly life has been exhausted, you will find neither compassion, nor violence, neither humility nor insolence, neither wonder nor excitement.  (172)

The liberated one neither abhors objects of the senses, nor does he covet them.  He enjoys whatever comes along with a perfectly detached mind.  (173)

Always abiding in the Self, the wise one of vacant mind does not conceptualize on the opposites like right and wrong, good and evil.  (174)

Devoid altogether of the feeling of ‘me’ and ‘mine’, knowing with firm conviction that no thing exists in reality, and with all his inner desires set at rest, the man of understanding does not act, though it may appear he is acting.  (175)

It is an indescribable state that comes to the man of understanding, whose mind has melted away and conceptualizing has ceased, and who is totally free from delusion, dreaming and dullness.  (176)