barney Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 3 Wisdom You know the Self, 1 By nature one Without end. You know the Self, And you are serene. How can you still desire riches? When from ignorance 2 You see silver in mother-of-pearl, Greed arises. From ignorance of the Self Desire arises For the world where the senses whirl. Knowing yourself as That 3 In which the worlds rise and fall Like waves in the ocean, Why do you run about so wretchedly? For have you not heard? 4 You are pure awareness, And your beauty is infinite! So why let lust mislead you? The man who is wise 5 Knows himself in all things And all things in himself. Yet how strange! He still says, "This is mine." Determined to be free, 6 He abides in the oneness Beyond all things. Yet how strange! Indulging in passion, he weakens, And lust overwhelms him. Feeble with age, 7 Still he is filled with desire, When without doubt he knows That lust is the enemy of awareness. Indeed how strange! He longs to be free. . . 8 He has no care for this world Or the next, And he knows what is passing Or forever. And yet how strange! He is still afraid of freedom. But he who is truly wise 9 Always sees the absolute Self. Celebrated, he is not delighted. Spurned, he is not angry. Pure of heart, 10 He watches his own actions As if they were another's. How can praise or blame disturb him? With clear and steady insight 11 He sees this world is a mirage, And he no longer wonders about it. How can he fear the approach of death? Pure of heart, 12 He desires nothing, Even in despair. He is content In the knowledge of the Self. With whom may I compare him? With clear and steady insight 13 He knows that whatever he sees Is by its very nature nothing. How can he prefer one thing to another? He is beyond all duality. 14 Free from desire, He has driven from his mind All longing for the world. Come what may, Joy or sorrow, Nothing moves him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2004 Report Share Posted April 8, 2004 May I request you to post some back ground about Ashtavakra Gita? Who is Ashtavakra? Is he a Rishi or something like that? What are the circumstances that lead to this gita? Is is a part of any upanishad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.