Ashṭāvakra > Quotes

“Bondage is when the mind longs for something, grieves about something, rejects something, holds on to something, is pleased about something or displeased about something.”
― Ashtavakra

“All things arise,
Suffer change,
And pass away.

This is their nature.

When you know this,
Nothing perturbs you,
Nothing hurts you.

You become still.”
― Ashṭāvakra, Ashtavakra Gita

“You do not consist of the elements - earth, water, fire, air or even ether. To be liberated, know yourself as consisting of consciousness, the witness of these.”
― Ashṭāvakra, Ashtavakra Gita

“If you are seeking liberation, my son, shun the objects of the senses like poison. Practise tolerance, sincerity, compassion, contentment and truthfulness like nectar.”
― Ashṭāvakra, Ashtavakra Gita

“Righteousness and unrighteousness, pleasure and pain are purely of the mind and are no concern of yours. You are neither the doer nor the reaper of the consequences, so you are always
free.”
― Ashṭāvakra, Ashtavakra Gita

“For God is infinite,
Within the body and without,
Like a mirror,
And the image in a mirror.

As the air is everywhere,
Flowing around a pot
And filling it,
So God is everywhere,
Filling all things
And flowing through them forever.”
― Ashṭāvakra, Ashtavakra Gita

“My child,
Because you think you are the body,
For a long time you have been bound.

Know you are pure awareness.

With this knowledge as your sword
Cut through your chains.
And be happy!

For you are already free,
Without action or flaw,
Luminous and bright.”
― Ashṭāvakra, Ashtavakra Gita

“You are really unbound and actionless, self-illuminating and spotless already. The cause of your bondage is that you are still resorting to stilling the mind.”
― Ashṭāvakra, Ashtavakra Gita

“The observed is true as long as there is an observer.”
― Astavakra Bart Marshal, Astavakra Gita

“Recognise that the apparent is unreal, while the unmanifest is abiding. Through this initiation into truth you will escape falling into unreality again.”
― Ashṭāvakra, Ashtavakra Gita

“Three things change your prakriti: your food, your atmosphere, your association. Without making any fuss about it, be in it. Sāttvic food, limited and timely food is good. The body is in the right shape. If too many desires come in your mind, or too much restlessness and agitation then food, atmosphere and association have been the cause. Without a fuss, just observe and do whatever is needful. Forget about it. Relax. Ahō niranjanaha shāntō bōdhō’ham prakrateh paraha. Some unpleasant feeling comes and you feel that it should not come. By doing that, you are resisting it. When you resist, it persists. Just observe and go deep into it. Dance, stand up and dance. Be intoxicated, move intoxicated. यथा”
― Ashṭāvakra, Ashtavakra Gita

“Just as a mirror exists everywhere both within and apart from its reflected images, so the Supreme Lord exists everywhere within and apart from this body.”
― Ashṭāvakra

“day’s with the next sun... If you only had ten days to live on the planet, what would you want to do? Sit”
― Ashṭāvakra, Ashtavakra Gita

“It is surprising indeed that the one existing for and aspiring to liberation through supreme non-duality should be defeated by the twisted skillful play of lust! ||3-6”
― Ashṭāvakra, Ashtavakra Gita: A Word-for-Word Translation

“The animal of lust is the enemy of knowledge, and is like a thunderbolt making you exceedingly weak. It is astonishing indeed to let it take possession of you and obey it right up to the end of time! ||3-”
― Ashṭāvakra, Ashtavakra Gita: A Word-for-Word Translation

“eka evaasi draṣṭāsi muktapūrvo'si sarvadā |
ayam eva hi bandho'te draṣṭāraṁ paśyasi tvam anyam”
― Ashṭāvakra