Abiding in the Self (Ashtavakra Gita 12.1-12.8) - 15th November 2016

So, Chapter 12 is 'Abiding in the Self.' Janaka said: 'Becoming first intolerant of action, then of excessive speech, then of thought itself, I came to be here.' Becoming first intolerant of action, then of speech—he's talking about non-doership—then of thought itself, not identifying with the thoughts anymore, 'I came to be here.' 'Neither sounds nor other sense perceptions attract my attention.' That's what we said: that as our belief is withdrawn, you will find that attention is also not running about as much as it used to. 'Neither sounds nor other sense perception attract my attention. Even the Self is unperceived.' That means not a phenomenal appearance. 'Mind is free, undistracted, one-pointed, and here I am.'

'Effort is required to concentrate a distracted mind superimposed with the illusion; knowing this, I remain here.' Effort is required—this is what we spoke about today—to concentrate a distracted mind superimposed with illusion. Knowing this, I remain here. 'Nothing to reject, nothing to accept, no joy nor sorrow. Lord God, I am here. The four stages of life, life without stages, meditation, renunciation, objects of mind—nothing but distractions. I am forever here.' The four stages of life, life without stages, meditation, renunciation, objects of the mind, all are nothing but distractions. I am forever here.

'Doing and not doing both arise from ignorance.' From the idea of there being a doer, doing and not doing both arise from ignorance. 'I know this, and I am here. Thinking of the unthinkable one'—that which concepts cannot reach—to try and think about that, that is not contemplation. 'Thinking of the unthinkable one unavoidably conjures thought. I choose no thought and remain here.' Thinking of the unthinkable one unavoidably conjures thought; I choose no thought and remain here. So, this is talking about not picking up spiritual concepts, spiritual ideas.

'Blessed is he who attains this by effort; blessed is he who is such by nature.' Blessed is he who attains this by effort—so the seeming effort for the inquiry, if it seems to lead to this letting go, then that is blessed. And blessed is he who is such by nature, which means who is naturally surrendered, naturally devotional, letting go and able to lay their head down on the Master's feet or God's feet, allow everything to happen, and that is their nature. They are also blessed. So, that was Chapter 12. You...