Contemplation on the Ashtavakra Gita Ch. 1, Vs. 10-14 - 2nd August 2017

My master would say, and this is not a plan, this is talking about now, just now: what is it that you are? And it will feel that you are something phenomenal. Find out who witnesses this phenomenon. What is more intimate? What is the truth? The most pristine insight, which means the unchangeable. If you tell me that 'I came to satsang and I had the most peaceful experience, I had experiences where all my chakras were vibrating, everything, I had an experience where I could travel to any part of the universe or I could go back and forward in time'—since you tell me all of this, I might say 'Nice' and be very good, something like that. But actually, I know that even this is not important relative to what I am speaking on. The most appearances, most pristine appearances can come, but that which is an appearance is away from the truth. So the invitation to stay with the truth is basically a request: don't give so much value to this appearance, just for a while. And now, what is here that is unchangeable? How to find out? You cannot find out with your mind. You cannot see it phenomenally as an object. You cannot deduce this like two plus two equals four. I can give you an equation where your calculator can... you will come to what we were using. So it's not intellect, it's not memory, it's not phenomenal, it's not emotional, not experiential in that way, at the phenomenal base of an experience. It is the underlying witness. It is more difficult because it will actually flow into what we think this is, all of them. Does that have a shape or size? Is that dependent on bliss? Our joy of being, our bliss, and joy—things which are dependent on that, you were before you could experience anything. What is that?

So he says, 'You are unbounded awareness, supreme bliss, in which the universe appears like the mirage of a snake in a rope.' What do you mean, like the mirage of a snake in a rope? The most popular metaphor in Vedanta is that there is not enough light, and like the shadow of the snake, or the appearance of the rope in the absence of sufficient light, it can seem like this is a snake. It can be the light of your existence, the light of you, that makes it seem like there is a world which is distinct, outside of me. Just like a dream can seem sufficient. Both eyes open or closed, we find out that everything is you. Find out what you are. In this where is the world? Where is the world? Also, as we shall come to the recognition of the Self, all this other—the snake in the rope, the world in the Brahman—all these will become so clearly obvious. It is true what they say.

What you think, you become. It can seem true about you. If you think you are free, you are free. What if what they think you are teaching? If you think you are bound, you are bound. If you think you are free, you are free. What this means, what happens when we think? What thinking means is giving belief to this appearance of this world, to the mind-world. If we can borrow the voice in our heads, this is an appearance of this energy construct called thought. But what do we mean when we say thinking and believing things? We are not just talking about the appearance of this energy construct, the thought; we're also talking about the belief in this construct, identification with this construct. Now, look experientially. You see, if you don't attach at all, we are being this. As a nice exercise for others, even to exist right now, give me the thought. Are you losing touch with existence? So existence is here effortlessly. 'I am.' Now, add any other identity: 'I am 42 years old.' Now, this '42 years old' is an identity. If there was no identification with the concept, would I be able to attach this '42 years old' to 'I am'? So there is effortless existence. Then to identify with conditioning, with thoughts—what does the appearance of thoughts or conditioning do? As we remain in our openness, as we allow all this activity to come and go, what do you find yourself to be? That wisdom which 'I am,' that even prior to this 'I am,' which is aware of you. You are aware of your presence, which is the value of openness. That's why they say, 'Let thoughts come and go, please don't serve them tea.' The most simple, straightforward spiritual instruction: all surrender, all openness, this is containment.

As Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi said, if you still feel like you have a choice, make the choice not to go along with what your thoughts are saying. And one day, then you will see that even this was not a choice; even this was the function of Grace. So he said very clearly, as long as you feel there is a choice about anything at all, make this choice of not going along with it, not identifying with this, don't give it meaning. It is true what we say: what you think, you become. If you give the pretense of you, did you say, 'I am the body' and 'I am a liar'? Then you are obviously not talking about your reality; you are talking about a limited entity which is claiming yourself to be one of the teachers. Just be, remain as 'I am.' All of this, it means this: leave 'I am' unattached. The mind might come and say, 'I can't do this.' Even that, don't get attached to that. Let that come and go. The consciousness, the being, is consistent. This is of its own design, of its own power, to believe itself to be limited. It is to deviate a little bit from what Ashtavakra is saying. That teaching is about what you think of yourself. If you think you are bound, you are bound. And if you're in satsang and you think you're bound, then what are you? You're holding onto this: 'I am a seeker.' Then he said, 'If you think you are free, you are free.' So I'm saying something different from where you are. I'm saying even this thought 'I am free' is not needed. You are naturally free. Because even at the thought 'I am free,' there is a possibility that you will pick up a presumption of the 'I' which is the limited entity. So drop this idea that 'I am bound' and see if you can also drop this idea 'I am free.' Neutrality is what remains. It's completely alien to the mind. To the mind, the door is either open or it is closed. But there is a door that is neither open nor closed. Let me try to make a visual of it. Something very definite, which is neutrality, means being empty of the concept of everything. Without the concept of bondage, is there a concept of freedom? Think about the context. Without the concept of desire, is there a concept of aversion? They are facing opposites. As you step back from this play of opposites, you will find this natural neutrality. This is very, very, very important because many times in satsang, especially, it can happen that the resistance comes. This is the natural reaction of that openness. So your not opening becomes the position which tries to counteract the traditional resistance. So what are you doing now? 'I am being open.' What were you doing? 'Resisting.' 'I don't want this.' Both of them are also in the play of duality. What is it that you are? This witness is clear of duality. Whether resisting or open, it is neither. It doesn't apply.

Many times, especially in Satsang, it can happen that the resistance you feel is the gospel equation of that opening. So your not-opening becomes the position which tries to counteract the traditional resistance. So what are you doing now? 'I'm being moving.' What are you doing? 'Resisting.' I don't want this one willfully, but both of them are also in the play of duality. What is it that you are? At this business, it's clear of duality. Whether resisting or open, it is neither; it doesn't apply. So when this very important point comes, it may be the most direct way to point to what is being pointed at. Even the term 'open' can be misunderstood. It's more about playing with as real as well, this little case. So that concern, unbound by this play of opposites, what happens anytime also is that one day you will see great insight happen, and very quickly the proclamations come: 'Happy! I got it!' That seems this will be a little bit, and you go on the road and you say, 'I want to go to the punishing tree. Go to this place, go to the punishing tree. All the life is punishing tree. I'll pay 200 rupees extra.' In that one moment of freedom, can you so-called bouquet and freedom? What you're sweet and separation, all that can come. One leg is all moving between. You sit back. So it's not about this problem, this play of opposites, resisting and plowing. Not in that way. I am that within you; it is not involved in this. We have articles without a position that you are taking on. It is not a new position of conscience of 'I am now spiritual' and 'now and under certain abilities.' It is being until alteration. The mind will come. I will use dark. Is this one that's that deal? I know, I know that I know, madam. But you know what? Ten million years I've been land you go, madam. I know Maya doesn't like you, but this time and I'm gonna had changed. I am not going to sell you your individuality. I will point in video. Truth will come to them. Dislike that you keep buying this ticket, this merry-go-round. Then someone says, 'Which one or dies which you are believing about this talk to me? I am never going to buy some new pavement again and again. I am going crazy. Thank you.' He will be careful, okay? What is that? It is also an offering from the same series. 'I have to get, have to get rid of the mind, have to be rid of it. Mind has got me in all this one. I have decided that I am going to be open.' Wait, open this one, this one a bit. Explain that it is very same again. What inclusion is some to both? Let it come and let it go. Put it up, it's okay. Now we let it come and you exit free. If you pick it up again, it's okay. Hopefully, no guilt about yourselves. Don't be one given it enough time. You keep the mind working hard to read individuality. It means to keep offering you this idea with your limitation. You will become naturally empty of it every moment. And there's really secrets what I'm saying. All the struggling of originality will drop away if you just see this or dancing every moment. Naturally, it is done to the mind, which means to take this extra effort every moment to come inches again empty of concept walls himself. Let me come with the next offering. Otherwise, it is form; therefore, it is in containing more time to create this sense of individuality. Effortlessly, we'll just be. This is the meaning of letting go. Letting go doesn't mean this is really something to let go of. It only means this offer comes: 'I am going to tell you the most important ticket or otherwise we will become the best, most spiritual, most enlightened person in the world.' This offer comes from the mind. Don't give the command cool which you pick it up or to be nothing. And the next offer comes, you let that one coming and you can know about this story to me, which is that many, many years ago before I met Guruji, probably eleven, twelve years ago, reading Bhagavan and I was very frustrated at being a seeker. So one day I said, 'Today, I will not leave the Self-inquiry till I find myself.' I sat down and I feel like this—I don't know if it actually happened, if this is the way I like to remember it actually, which is very they embody happened. Expose the exporting what you're coming with the witness of these impatient overseeing a census in the time. Everything became quiet for a long time. Everything became still, quiet. Nothing will be forty-five minutes or an hour. The mind has stopped. This right now, I'll give you a good life right now and give you a good life. And mind itself came and said, 'Be this is Franklin, stop this.' I saw a video with Loni. Mind itself scale effect feel. Then what happened? So much guilt you will finding it. You made a deal with mind of the seagulls is devil. You sold your soul to the devil and all this mountain. But believe this is the way the mind country. That's why what to do and something is picked up? Looking who worry about it, forget it, it's gone. How do you properly in work for somebody? Posted the path to the corpse, finished. That comes in doing this mind. I think the one that has to make the effort to convince God and this negative that it is something which is smaller, limited, constricted. It has conditioned about itself. One will not stop making therefore what existed crystal. Let it come and let it go. Have anything to do with what is celebrating it? Yeah, you heard it is true what they think, what they feel. Why would you think so? You understood this, isn't it? It's not that you actually are that you can pick up the pretense of whatever thought that you're believing. If you think you are bound, so that is the thing, we are bound. And what is the role you're playing? We are playing the role of the spiritual seeker. If you think actually with your field, what is the role you're playing? The things are going of this which is equal. If you can just talk, if it is not your realization, it will not the recognition is the concept can either function until afterwards. I will forbid my little origins and also we do not need the concept actually because you do not need the concept and don't work the Clarisse because you are self tell to the capitalist the solitary witness. You are perfect, all-pervading one. You are free, desireless, forever still. The universe is but assuming in you. You are self so solitary witness, you are perfect, all-pervading one. You are free, desireless, forever still. The universe is what is singing in you. Invaded that when do the frisian what? How do you use these beautiful things that the fade is pointedly? Not by looking for these four declared attributes in themselves, but come to the recognition about your fellow. What is a sec? I am. And then the mind will come and face is create a need for some of you will some confirmation. They looks really good by really water. So they might be speaking with them, but then when this kind of doubts come, then we lose this point. Very good check. What did you say? Talking about is talking about one that is a solitary witness that has a disparate between that the idea of intersection will not apply to it. That which is all-pervading. If you find somewhere where you are not, you'll find something which is your absence of you find everything which is just your presence. There is one with a capital O. So if we will find any separation, what is re about your is your queen desireless forever space. So all of this youth is in your face of self-recognition. Yes, this is exactly what the sages thing. Had no desire, I am swimming actually beyond the concept of food lack. What happened to me give? So all of these activists, if you start looking for them in this as they are, then it can think of its and choosing. How do I find this 131? How do you find this one that is Delilah to me? No, you find the witness of all things and then see who that is that you are knowing. And this you that is the witness of all things, then you check the guns all relaxed aboot call it a witness, the one that has no imperfections. It is Cle the dial is for the history and that tales checking on your pelvis. It will be very clear. It is such it in the attributes for themselves then you can see later another Mary we long to get into educate on this. I am awareness alone, unity itself. Give up the idea that you are separate a person, that there is a within and without. Meditate on this. So I would say that buying to this, contemplate this and that you are at 41 vacate on this, enquiring to this, contemplated and we will fight the unity of this oneness that it was right after a little with the waiter not to we deal with the hell contemplations find us the beach over to Sonny's. Give up the idea that you are separate a person, if there is ribbon and without, and we will be discussing how to give up this idea. It's already we then upside down big enough how to give it up and offer thumbs then this leg offer coming in the loop the conveyor belt also mine that I talked about the edges this will keep coming reviews dishes of reviews shapes and sizes. Let them come and listen to one time you would most of you move this way and sorting my stories are getting old as I am getting wood. So one time we will resume deli and we were shopping on some screen and it will good first to be equal for something the street and then the street we saw from under looking over 50 M no 10 degree and we get a VA time goes on so some notices then one of us Adam will be down the answer booty because in you yes we went down to pick up the note and the note had a string tied to it every others so he went down the one clicking on a wall on the side is so again the mind makes this Italy to first if you do it was that to do with difficulties for that the mind comes will be offering this what I mean you know that you have been fooled into or you've been playing as if you're an individual for so long but line these concepts about your sorry yes the next address mojo Stan not Opie's between little coins if I'm going to tell you these various forms of this offer that come from them I like the poor one who keeps bending down to pick it up keep playing this game expecting that this time I will really get it in that way I will get something meaningful. We got the idea that you were separate a person that that is within and without most of our collective I've looked at this they could be relaxed a week and we spoken about it and and someone dumps me we agree with it but this has to be at least it will have to be agita and I know that there is there is a desire same place okay become faculty can I please can I have to come up so I have for them I say we're competing in this with this to be some creationist idea okay if the power is just trying to replicate the phenomenal appearance very accurately without any sense of personal identity so if the thought for example is us that's a green apple not that I want a green apple and I like green apples what I don't like without with a identity if there is harder to think that's a green apple we find that the meaning is because the experience or between whatever it is is apparent already but if you want to pick up to us for some time I'll make good confession so either it works bored from primitive a phenomenal appearance as accurately as possible and as the empty of any self-definition because when this self definition comes so-called self definition is actually good recognition and that is the door to something you has long been bound thinking I am a person what is the fate is not me you are longing bound as a person because you have long been bound thinking I am a person let the knowledge I am awareness alone with the sword that squeezes this which subtle other words my same shape hole differently the first part is that we are even thinking I'm a person or person I will actually existed no person actually ever appears unlikely in the body and the Attic with energy concept of - that which is a payment of this body man is not a entity which even appeared in the phenomenon will access there is the physical appearance energetic appearance of this body with the energetic appearance of your mind and at this of the best part is well on that is very well energetic Thames f

The first part is that we are even thinking 'I'm a person.' Did a person actually ever exist? No person actually ever appears. In the body and the energetic concept of that which is a payment of this body, man is not an entity which even appeared in the phenomenal world. There is the physical appearance, the energetic appearance of this body, with the energetic appearance of your mind. And at the best part as well, all that is very well energetic terms for some separation, some individuals. I don't talk about that because the more you think about that aspect, the more you acutely define it. So forget about this.

There is the appearance of the body, the appearance of the mind. We have been thinking that because there is the appearance of the body-mind, we are it. We actually, of course, never have been. It's like saying that's the person. If you feel you don't have to feel this, which means that the world is an illusion, both in its second levels you cannot even in this world define it. The body is unconcerned with the amount of money in the bank. The body is actually unconstrained even with light. And what will light human bring to a talks with hot? Is it omen? The body-mind boon, what can we give to your partner? So that which one, so neither this or be in order to survive, there is a chemically based of the new system.

If we flipped up about Atma, you have been bound. The bondage, of course, you understood now is the freedom, the voice of the pretenses. You have been bound thinking 'I am a person.' Let the knowledge 'I am awareness alone' be the sword that frees you. Knowledge is not the concept. The model is not the concept 'I am awareness alone.' If you chant 'I am awareness alone' and no looking or inside is happening, it's just chanting. Maybe it will have some energetic benefit, okay, I am not denying that, but it is not the knowledge which the verse is talking about. Knowledge is this: the direct recognition of the Self. Knowledge with a capital 'K' is what we spoke about in the full array, which is beyond perceptual, conceptual, and most random objects.

Want any concept? Are you aware now? Do you need a thought to see that you are aware? Do you need a perception to see that you are aware? You need neither. This is the only one that you can select attack simply. If I keep doing the promotion, writing comes obsessed with some of the examples; they like them because they are so simple. If I say to you, 'There's a small green ball in my hand,' so you refer to the perceptual knowledge of seeing the small green ball, say yes. If I say to you, 'Is the world round?' and you refer to a conceptual knowledge. Right now, your experience of the world is not particular; you pull to the conceptual knowledge of the world being round, then you answer from there, 'Yes.'

What if I ask you, 'Are you aware now?' Do either of you? Sometimes you might be referring to the concept of awareness and things closer. So that's why I say that counsel from the mind's loop. Then I check. When you check, what do you find? Do you find the appearance of something called awareness like the green ball? Yet we answer 'Yes.' So now, let the beauty of the simplicity of this room, we will attempt to excel take a mission which takes millions of years, or not supposedly. Maybe they just hopefully acting like a good question: 'Am I aware now?' convinced within sight of what I truly am.

So maybe the point of all that sadhna existed in this, to this simple ultimate stuff. Even asking others this question, and then over here, save many, many matrix of the mind. Some wonder can come because, oh dear, so many times here now our discussion 'Are you aware now?' and it becomes a pattern. 'I am awareness' will give all the support. And then next day, being come to the time, the other having this trouble in my relationship, man having this trouble with my body, and having this trouble with my money. See, which is yesterday we thought we come to the line. Yes, then I knew you say that 'I don't want to talk about awareness today, I want to talk about me.' Give me this. This is the ultimate resistance: 'I don't want to talk about awareness today, I want to talk about me.'

That means that even in the insight of this service, the mind has been able to come in and it is back to the lens which has nothing to do with you really. Maybe you come from that, but you are this. When we get caught up in this kind of thing, I have offered you another question: 'Are you aware of even this awareness?' This question really hit home the booze for having this inside deep inside the ropes. The triple for they are so what the mind has been able to do and come with to still create a separate 'I' to support in this array. Gloucester says, 'Now will be the web even a quicker way will say only I.' This is just 'I' anyway. That's it from already by all things appear within it. The face 'I' will give universe is appearance within it.

I put this away. If you stay with this question, 'Who is aware?' for them will see that this also the materials making a distinction between 'I' know in the wait for them to die, then you're not able to see so easily. It's for the 'No, no, no, I don't want to talk about awareness, really talk about image.' What as this 'I' create an illegal if my ninja sword because collect mine India so hopefully about that I realized later. I don't know what happened and I realized that means I don't carry source. It will summarize I have to, so we get carry the others showing rectangle even has what we move is growing up another one. Well, that's not the most important pointing to the effect the song in this summary saw 'Who is aware?' is a very beautiful way we increase the final.

So we took a bit warm, okay, good for to the edge given any numbers tomorrow. Lots of homework is Amelia with problem that is happening here, the conditioning of this one. Now that is the question is asked, how billions will come to answer the question? So union the pristinely option here, only the habit is to answer the fiscal well. The only time I notice I artificial in place. Okay, this is your homework: contemplate this and then ongoing later. I'm answering the fifth some time I gotta hate I had fun, okay, with a number of my ashram remember a tired body was really kind of energy for silica. I said, but I'm feeling like a society of box put the point of the question in and here I am dancing to the answer that I don't want to do that anymore for some time.

And I will ask the question, give a week to just idle aspect. I didn't think any answer. Use it often because you rather we had a number it don't spoil a community to not true. And here also much lobbying inter-country of Guru Sri Moojiji ki Jai. I'm enjoying very much the chanting that came here, so we will continue to do that. If you welcome all the so to say of the welcome issue about the print spooler, you don't enjoy this kind of thing they much say whatever you like on so a clear divide this whole community rejected even.