Ashtavakra answers to questions raised by King Janaka regarding bondage (bandhana), liberation (mukti), and attainment (moksha).
tadaa bandhO yadaa chittam kinchidvaanchati shOchati |
kinchinmuchyanti gRuhaNaati kinchidrushyati kupyati ||
Meaning, the fickle mind, chitta (manas or manovutti) that desires anything, feels pain or suffering loss, or rejects, or even enjoys thinks happy or gets angry, that is bondage. If it is not interested or involved in any of these that is liberation. Showing interest in anything with desirous or of possession is bondage and freedom is disinterestedness! This is anasakti yoga.
These words of Learned Sage Ashtavakra are very important. They show how we entangled in worldly affairs, get interested in worldly objects and fall prey to our mental afflictions driving our senses to search for joy, happiness in outer world. Nothing that comes from outside will ever satisfy us because they are all bound by limitations of time and space. We too change our interests according to our state of mind and moods. It is these limitations that make us unhappy even if we get what we desire. This there is no happiness in this world. It is this maya, limitations, that make us disappointed in life. Any possession such as family, children, wealth, power and possession will not make us happy. It is only disinterestedness in worldly objects that can liberate us.
Further, it is said,
dvaitamoolamahO duhkham naanyastatrasyaasti BhEshajam |
drushyamEtanRuShaa sarvam EkO'haM chidrasO'malah || (A-G 2.16)
Meaning, 'dualism' is the root of suffering.What all seen is an illusion. i only am the chidrasa and amala is the only solace for suffering.
This stanza is of utmost importance. The learned sages have declared that "those who discriminate, divide, treat others as different will perish". There is 'only one' and 'no other'. The Gita also exemplifies this principle.One should not differentiate. Although all that we see look different, they are the same in principle. A coconut tree and a fig tree may look different but both are plants rooted in soil. In this sense all animals are same! The Gita reiterates that only one Mahapurusha Bhagavan Shree Krishna is the Father and all others are His own creation. He is the seed. One only becomes many. EkO'ham bahusyam | (Rk Veda).
Ashtavakra says, what we call I, the aham, is the principle ahamta, the essence of consciousness, light, knowledge. It is blemishless, and this knowledge of the Self is the elixir of suffering.
Further, it is said,
dvaitamoolamahO duhkham naanyastatrasyaasti BhEshajam |
drushyamEtanRuShaa sarvam EkO'haM chidrasO'malah || (A-G 2.16)
Meaning, 'dualism' is the root of suffering.What all seen is an illusion. i only am the chidrasa and amala is the only solace for suffering.
This stanza is of utmost importance. The learned sages have declared that "those who discriminate, divide, treat others as different will perish". There is 'only one' and 'no other'. The Gita also exemplifies this principle.One should not differentiate. Although all that we see look different, they are the same in principle. A coconut tree and a fig tree may look different but both are plants rooted in soil. In this sense all animals are same! The Gita reiterates that only one Mahapurusha Bhagavan Shree Krishna is the Father and all others are His own creation. He is the seed. One only becomes many. EkO'ham bahusyam | (Rk Veda).
Ashtavakra says, what we call I, the aham, is the principle ahamta, the essence of consciousness, light, knowledge. It is blemishless, and this knowledge of the Self is the elixir of suffering.
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