VivekaVani

Abiding in the Self Janaka said --- 1. I become intolerant first of physical action, then of extensive speech and then of thought. Thus therefore do I firmly abide. 2. Having no attachment for sound and other sense objects, and the Self not being an object of perception, my mind is freed from distraction and is one-pointed. Thus therefore do I firmly abide. 3. An effort has to be made for concentr...

Wisdom Ashtavakra said --- 1. He who has realized that change in the form of existence and destruction is in the nature of things, easily finds repose, being unperturbed and free from pain. 2. He who has known for certain that Iswara is the creator of all and that there is none else here, becomes peaceful with all his inner desires set at rest, and is not attached to anything whatsoever. 3. He who...

Quietude Ashtavakra said --- 1. Cultivate indifference to everything, having given up kama (desire) which is the enemy, artha (worldly prosperity) which is attended with mischief, and dharma (performance of good works) which is the cause of these two. 2. Look upon friends, lands, wealth, houses, wives, presents and such other marks of good fortune, as a dream or a juggler’s show, lasting only a fe...

Detachment Ashtavakra said --- 1. Duties done and not done, as well as the pairs of opposites –- when do they cease and for whom? Knowing thus, be desireless and intent on renunciation through complete indifference to the world. 2. Rare indeed, my child, is that blessed person whose desire for life, enjoyment, and learning have been extinguished by observing the ways of men. 3. The wise man become...

Bondage and Liberation Ashtavakra said --- 1. It is bondage when the mind desires or grieves at anything, rejects or accepts anything, feels happy or angry at anything. 2. Liberation is attained when the mind does not desire or grieve or reject or feel happy or angry. 3. It is bondage when the mind is attached to any sense experience. It is liberation when the mind is detached from all sense exper...

Nature of Self-Realization Janaka said --- 1. In me, the boundless ocean, the ark of the universe moves hither and thither impelled by the wind of its own inherent nature. I am not impatient. 2. In me, the limitless ocean, let the wave of the world rise or vanish of itself. I neither increase nor decrease thereby. 3. In me, the boundless ocean, is the imagination of the universe. I am quite tranqu...

The Higher Knowledge Ashtavakra said --- 1. Boundless as space am I, and the phenomenal world is like a jar; this is Knowledge. So it has neither to be renounced nor accepted nor destroyed. 2. I am like the ocean and the universe is like the wave; this is Knowledge. So it has neither to be renounced nor accepted nor destroyed. 3. I am like mother of pearl and the illusion of the universe is like s...

Four Ways to Dissolution Ashtavakra said --- 1. You are free from contact with anything whatsoever. Therefore, pure as you are, what do you want to renounce? Destroy the body-complex and in this way enter into the state of dissolution. 2. The universe rises from you like bubbles rising from the sea. Thus know the Self to be One and in this way enter into the state of dissolution. 3. The universe,...

Glorification of Self-realization Ashtavakra said --- 1. Oh, the man of understanding, the knower of Self, who plays the game of life, has no similarity to the deluded beasts of burden of the world. 2. Oh, the yogin does not feel elated abiding in that state which Indra and all other gods hanker after and thus become unhappy. 3. Surely the heart of one who has known the Self is not touched by virt...

Test of Self-Realization Ashtavakra said --- 1. Having known yourself as really indestructible and One, how is it that you, knower of Self and serene, feel attached to the acquisition of wealth? 2. Alas, as greed arises from the illusion of silver caused by the ignorance of the mother of pearl, even so arises attachment to the objects of illusory perception from the ignorance of the Self. 3. Havin...

Joy of Self-realization Janaka said --- 1. Oh, I am spotless, tranquil, Pure Consciousness, and beyond Nature. All this time I have been mocked by illusion. 2. As I alone reveal this body, even so do I reveal this universe. Therefore mine is all this universe, or verily nothing is mine. 3. Oh, having renounced the universe together with the body, I now perceive the Supreme Self through the secret...

Instruction   on Self-Realization Janaka said --- 1. How can knowledge be acquired? How can liberation be attained? How is renunciation possible? --- Tell me this, O Lord. Ashtavakra said -- 2. If you aspire after liberation, my child, shun the objects of the senses as poison and seek forgiveness, sincerity, kindness, contentment and truth as nectar. 3. You are neither earth, nor water,...

‘Ashtavakra Gita’ is one of the advaitic masterpieces. Without mincing matters it comes out with the advaitic truth, the whole truth and nothing but advaita which is the Truth. This book embodies Ashtavakra’s teaching to King Janaka which vouched him Self-Knowledge between the time he placed one foot upon the stirrup of his horse and lifted himself to place the other foot on the other stirrup. How...

What to Do?

Vedanta in Practice

Which Spiritual Path Should I Follow? | Swami Sarvapriyananda by VivekaVani

Is Knowledge Enough? | Swami Sarvapriyananda by VivekaVani

What is My Duty in Life? | Swami Sarvapriyananda by VivekaVani

How Do I Find My Guru? | Swami Sarvapriyananda by VivekaVani

Guidelines for Right Living

Leisure World 05 - Summary of Unity Series

The Underlying Unity

Principles of Practice

The Goal and Its Attainment

Vedantic Eden