Tag: Ashtavakra Samhita

Steady Wisdom: Day 108

on By

Steady Wisdom: 108 Verses On Changing My Thinking

DAY 108

There is no need to meditate or hold any thought in my mind.  I am the ever-free self.  How could meditation change that? 
-Ashtavakra Samhita 15:20
Meditation

The act of meditation cannot merge me with the self or transform me into the self because I already am the self.  Concentration of the mind (or lack thereof) can never change that. 

Doing nididhyasana, therefore, can only concentrate the mind on the truth of who I already am.  If this mental process succeeds, I am the ever-free self.  If this mental process fails, I am the ever-free self.  This is the true nididhyasana.  OM. 

But…

O great one, spend your time seeing yourself in all situations everywhere, recognizing yourself as the non-dual self and enjoying the ananada that is your very nature. 
-Vivekachudamani

All things considered equal, as long as the body is alive, the mind will dwell on one thing or another.  Why not let it dwell on its true nature as the self, which is ever-present and full, rather than the illusory objects of the world, which are transient and empty of inherent value?

Steady Wisdom: Day 55

on By

Steady Wisdom: 108 Verses On Changing My Thinking

DAY 55

Knowing I am really the self, I play the game of life without being deluded by it. 

-Ashtavakra Samhita 4:1

Meditation

This much is clear:  I am the self, the one reality; the body, mind and world are false.  Despite knowing this, the body, mind and world continue to appear.  But this is no problem because I am no longer deluded by their appearance.  OM. 

Read Series Introduction

Steady Wisdom: Day 53

on By

Steady Wisdom: 108 Verses On Changing My Thinking

DAY 53

I am devoid of thought, even when engaged in thought; I am devoid of the sense-organs, even though I have them; I am devoid of intellect, even though endowed with it; and I am devoid of the sense of ego, even though possessed of it. 
-Ashtavakra Samhita 18:95
Meditation

I am not a thought.  I am not the sum of my sense perceptions.  I am not the reasoning faculty of my mind.  I am not even the sense of “I.”  All of these things are transient objects that are known to me and I am not what I know.  I am the self, untouched by them all. 

And yet, thoughts, sense perceptions, etc. are all me because they have no existence apart me, existence itself.  They depend on me but I do not depend on them.  How inexplicable but liberating is that!  OM. 

     Read Series Introduction 

Steady Wisdom: Day 51

on By

Steady Wisdom: 108 Verses On Changing My Thinking

DAY 51

I am infinite and pure, free from attachment and desire.  I am at peace.  Objects are illusory and they do not limit me in any way. 
-Ashtavakra Samhita 7:4
Meditation

Do the objects I experience limit me, pure consciousness, in any way?  No.  I am consciousness in the presence or absence of objects.  They come and go but I remain as the very light which reveals their coming and going. 

Do the objects I experience limit me, pure existence, in any way?  No.  I exist (and I am existence itself) before, during and after the appearance of an object.  Otherwise, how could I even say that an object appeared and subsequently disappeared?  Further, as existence itself, I am the intrinsic nature of all objects, just as gold is the intrinsic nature of all gold rings.  Just as the appearance of a ring does not limit the nature of gold, so the appearance of objects does not limit me. OM.  

Read Series Introduction

Steady Wisdom: 7 Week Progress Check

on By

Steady Wisdom:  108 Verses On Changing My Thinking

DAY 49

One who has the firm conviction, “this is done by the body and not by me, the pure self” does not act, even while acting.
-Ashtavakra Samhita 18:25
Meditation

I, the pure self, do not act, even when the body acts.  I, the pure self, do not think, even when the mind thinks.  Therefore, I, the pure self, do not do nididhyasana, even when the body-mind does nididhyasana.  This is my firm conviction. 

After 7 weeks of nididhyasana, I remind myself that the primary goal of Vedanta is to help me see that I am the pure self, not the body, the mind or any combination of the two.  When I directly realize this for myself, I can patiently and objectively correct the behavior of my body-mind, all the while understanding that I am never defined or affected by the state or activity of the body-mind.  OM. 

Read Series Introduction