An interesting excerpt from the Ashtavakra Gita:


Since you have been bitten by the black snake of the self-opinion that "I am the doer", drink the nectar of faith in the fact that "I am not the doer", and be happy. 1.8

Burn down the forest of ignorance with the fire of the understanding that "I am the one pure awareness", and be happy and free from distress. 1.9

That in which all this appears - imagined like the snake in a rope, that joy, supreme joy and awareness is what you are, so be happy. 1.10

If one thinks of oneself as free, one is free, and if one thinks of oneself as bound, one is bound. Here this saying is true, "Thinking makes it so". 1.11

Your real nature is as the one perfect, free, and actionless consciousness, the all-pervading witness - unattached to anything, desireless and at peace. It is from illusion that you seem to be involved in samsara. 1.12

Meditate on yourself as motionless awareness, free from any dualism, giving up the mistaken idea that you are just a derivative consciousness, or anything external or internal. 1.13

If one thinks of oneself as free, one is free, and if one thinks of oneself as bound, one is bound. Here this saying is true, "Thinking makes it so". 1.11  

I like that saying alot! I am not familiar with the Ashtavakra Gita. Would you mind explainingit to me? I am interested in knowing more!

Thanks Shawn!
Alles gute, Dara

Hi Dara,

I'm really glad you like it! Indeed, it's a fascinating work.   The Ashtavakra Gita, also referred to as 'The Heart Of Awareness', is a famous Sanskrit scripture which means "Ashtavakra's Song" in Sanskrit (Ashtavakra was a character in ancient Sanskrit literature).

I've posted a copy at http://brainmeta.com/ashtavakra.html which is accessible from http://brainmeta.com/philosophy.html , and in the coming days will be supplementing the philosophy page with similar eastern philosophical works.

take care,
Shawn

The Ashtavkra Gita originated in the erstwhile area of the present State of Mithila in Bihar state of India. It is a compilation of the dialogue between the (disciple) Raja Janak - the King of Mithila (the father of Sita). Lord Rama, if you would be aware of Eastern Religion, was the Husband of Sita.

There is another (more Modern) Gita, which is more famous. It originated in the battlefield of Kurukshetra (in present day Haryana State of Haryana in India. A Google search would reveal the translation of the entire text of the 'Ashtavakra Gita' (by John Richards).

HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar elaborates upon the teachings of the Ashtavakra Gita. Information regarding the Courses conducted in this respect could be got after doing some courses of the 'Art of Living' and contacting certain Teachers of the 'Art of Living' HQ in Bangalore, India.