Ashtavakra Gita - 1

"Ashtavakra Gita: A Pure Masterpiece of Hindu Philosophy"

While going through the Ashtavakra Gita, I came across a thought why spirituality is important? In this context Muni Ashtavakra is answering the most important questions of Janaka (the King) about the inner peace the relation of human with spirituality and why it is important. We often find ourselves entangled in many problems that we think could be resolved by our efforts. Hence, they keep us in the state of “cause and effect”. But we never question the word “I” which is the actual experiencer here. Ashtavakra Gita is all about dissolving that petty “I” what we think we are and to be free from all those thoughts that forms it and to be connected with the absolute reality to experience it in our natural state as “Sahaj Samadhi”. It is a state that dawns upon you when you deny all those petty thoughts.

Again, the intention is not to lure your attention by saying that it is some kind of experience but to build a constant habit of seeing things as it is. A true state when the seeking of truth and happiness stops, and you experience that you are that “tat twam asi”. Yes, you are that. Osho the famous guru of spirituality says that I don’t have all the answers, but I’m vacant from questions.  

So now, what is thought? What is action?

Thinking that you’ve to achieve something is thought and working towards achieving that is action in simple words. Once that is done your horizon shifts to another target and that brings you in a kind of a loop. That’s an endless loop of “action and reaction”, “cause and effect”. The whole discussion is to be relieved from that thought.

Janaka asks three basic questions: how to achieve true knowledge? how to achieve nirvana? how to achieve asceticism? These are the most important question in spirituality.

Here nirvana is the end goal. Whereas knowledge and Asceticism are the ways to achieve it. He says leave all the impressions that you get from your five senses as “poison”. The problem with this is, that people confuse it with the basic needs. He is not asking to part ways with your basic needs of your life but to understand the moderation in which it is required. So, you are able to form the right relationship with them, and you don’t exploit it and yet be free from it.

To sum it up it should be our aim to understand the moderation and to be clear about the difference between the “means” and the “end goal”. I hope that explains why spirituality is important.

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