Ashtavakra Samhita

 The sayings of Sage Ashtavakra seems to be the ultimate state where nothing exists! Ultimately, nothing exists; all that exists is an illusion of the mind- 'chitta vikalpa', 'bhrama', or just the waves and vibrations of energy in the scientific terminology; it is the 'chit-shakti' in tantric terminology. When the Veda asserts that "One only becomes many", obviously, the many is the manifest forms of one only. The seeker who wants to know takes recourse to devata and Chandas only to realize the fact that what he seeks is himself (and becomes a Rishi)! One only (the seeker) becomes the devata (the deity/ knowledge) and the Chandas (means of knowing). Ultimately, noth the seeker and the means of seeking knowledge disappear leaving only the Knowledge. Thus, it is always, 'the one' that remains at the end. So also in the case of every jiva that is born; the one only becomes many and reverts back to its early state of oneness. Ashtavakra makes this point very clear saying, "an other is the problem. Once this principle of oneness, ekam, undivided (indivisible) Self is realized all the problems disappear like the mist that disappears with the rising Sun. When the light dawns on the jiva the dualities disappear! Redemption, liberation or mukti moksha and such other questions do not arise at all when the jiva realizes the Self. It is the 'chit-shakti', prana, the pure consciousness (shuddha prajnya) that is eternal, un-diminishing and immortal. The 'Self' is one and the 'Self' is the only that exists, and nothing exists besides it.

   This.realization of the 'ultimate reality' is the fundamental goal of all jivas and the goal also disappears when the jiva knows it and feels " I am that". This is the ultimate principle- 'so'ham'. Even this aham asmi, 'I am', or aham brahmasmi disappears ultimately leading to nothingness, says Ashtavakra. A day before I entered this earth as an ion, a particle of light,  photon, i was just light, energy, prana in an invisible core of the atom, the atman. It is who got embodied in the earthen shell- annamaya kosha. I remain the same Light even after i discard this earthen shell is the realization.

     Thus, ultimately, there is neither a seeker, nor the sought. all these- jnyan, jnyeya, jnyata, disappear with the 'realization of the Self' (atmasakshatkara). 

  "What is there to know when there exists only the all-knowing 'Self', and nothing besides it?", asks Ashtavakra. There is nothing to know, nowhere  to go, and nothing to do.  This is exactly the state of a jiva in its infant stage as well as the ripe old age! So also, is the state in deep sleep, as well as, in asamprajnya samadhi. The only difference is that the jiva knows this  in its transcendental meditative (deep samadhi) state, but not in the other two states.