Peace

The Ashtavakra Gita is an ancient spiritual document of great purity and

power. Pure, because it is relentlessly one-pointed. Every word is aimed at

triggering Self-realization--no suggestions for self-improvement, no rules for

moral behavior, no practical wisdom for daily life. Powerful, because the mere

reading—or repeated reading--of it can be enough to send a ripe mind reeling

into Truth.

Little is known about the Ashtavakra Gita. Ashtavakra is a name that

appears in Indian lore, but almost certainly he did not write it. The author, likely

an anonymous sage, merely uses the characters of Ashtavakra and King Janaka

to set up a classic dialogue between guru and disciple. It quickly becomes a

guru-guru dialogue, however, because after the first salvo of wisdom from

Ashtavakra, Janaka realizes his true Self, and from then on they get into an

advaitic jam session of the highest sort

                                                                                      BEART MARSHAL (Translator)

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 Peace

Ashtavakra said:

18.1

Praise That,

which is Bliss itself,

which is by nature stillness and light,

and which by Its knowing

reveals the world as a dream.

18.2

One may enjoy the abundant pleasures of the world,

but will never be happy

until giving them up.

18.3

How can one whose innermost heart

has been scorched by the sun of sorrow

that comes from duty

be happy until the sweet rain

of torrential stillness?

18.4

The universe is but a thought

in Consciousness.

In Reality it is nothing.

One who sees the true nature

of existence and non-existence

never ceases to exist.

18.5

The Self--which is

absolute, effortless, timeless, immaculate--

is without limits

and at no distance from you.

You are forever It.

-----to be continued