Ch 11

11: Wisdom

Ashtavakra said: 

Existence, non-existence, change-this 

is the nature of things. 

Realizing this, 

stillness, serenity and bliss 

naturally follow. 

One who knows for certain that 

Self creates All and is alone 

becomes still, desireless, unattached. 

One who knows for certain 

that adversity and success 

come and go in obedience to destiny 

becomes content. 

He neither desires nor grieves. 

One who knows for certain 

that birth and death, happiness and misery, 

come and go in obedience to destiny 

sees nothing to accomplish. 

He engages in non-action, 

and in action remains unattached. 

One who has realized 

that only by caring 

is misery caused in the world 

becomes free, happy, serene, desireless. 

I am not the body, nor is the body my possession

I am Awareness itself. 

One who realizes this for certain 

has no memory of things done or left undone. 

There is only the Absolute. 

From Brahma to the last blade of grass-I 

alone exist. 

One who knows this for certain 

becomes immaculate, serene, unconflicted. 

Attainment has no meaning. 

One who knows for certain 

that this manifold and wonderful universe 

is nothing 

becomes desireless Awareness 

and abides in the stillness of No-thing.