Ashtavakra Gita - 2

"Ashtavakra Gita: Live in the World, Don't Be Worldly"

In the last article of Ashtavakra Gita we discussed about the three basic questions asked by the king (Janaka) that How to be Free? How to attain true knowledge? What is Asceticism. The basic approach people follow is to leave the material objects and think, that is the solution in spite of dropping the “I” that they call self. But that's not how spirituality works in real life.

Muni Ashtavakra says that despite leaving anything try connecting your day-to-day life with the Brhamh Vidya (the absolute knowledge) also called Tatva Bodh. Leave everything that forms an impression in your Chidakash (what you believe as your consciousness) through your sensory organs as poison.

Practice accepting forgiveness, kindness, Simplicity, Gratitude, Truthfulness as the Nectar of your life. These qualities will help a person be completely vacant from inside in order to transcend. If you practice this even if you are in the most complex situation you try to be simple from within. Initially it is tough, but it can be done through constant practice that is “Sadhna”. It is almost like viewing your emotions as a third person, every emotion may arise but you neither restrict it nor get blown away by it completely. Then you become the “Drishta” (the witness).

Rest is truth, there can be a truth that we think or the truth which is the actual truth. Hence these qualities that he mentions helps you bring a perspective of seeing things as it is not as what you think. The Vedas say that we are made up of “Punchbhoot” (five elements) Prathvi (Earth), Jal (Water), Agni (Fire), Vayu (Wind) Akash (Space). He says you are none of these, but you try considering yourself to be “Chit Swaroop Sakshi”. There could be two forms of truths about any object or anything rather. For example, you’ve a utensil made up of metal for you it is a utensil but in true sense it is a metal similar like you and it is also made up of “Punchbhoot” having the consciousness in an unmanifested way.

So, to be free first consider yourself to be a witness of all “Punchbhoot” in a form of the one absolute and eternal consciousness which is the absolute reality. One that is witnessing the change and is absolutely detached can understand the above-mentioned phrase how spirituality works.