Ashtavakra’s Counterpoint (AG3)

1. The Self

The one indestructible Self: having known that as your true nature, how does this knower of the Self stabilized in wisdom remain attached to accumulating wealth?

From ignorance of the Self arises an attachment to the illusory world of the senses. As from ignorance of the mother of pearl arises greed for its illusory silver.

But this universe arises like waves in the sea that I am. Thus realized, why are you running around like some hopeless individual?

After truly hearing the Self is pure consciousness and gloriously beautiful, why reap the impurity of a deep attachment to sensual things?

2. How Strange

The Self in all beings and all beings in the Self: in the wise one knowing that, how strange self-interest should continue.

Dwelling in absolute nonduality and fixed upon the great intent of liberation: how strange that such a one is subject still to sexual desire, languishing in erotic play.

Sensuality is the enemy of knowledge and weakens the spirit: how strange that someone who understands this would welcome sensuous pleasures while nearing the end of one’s life.

Dispassion towards all objects of the world and discernment between the permanent and impermanent: how strange that such a one striving for liberation from ignorance fear liberation from the body.

3. Wise One

The wise one whether glorified or persecuted is ever seeing the Self alone and thus may neither be pleased nor pained.

Seeing the actions of one’s own body like those of another, how could a wise one be bothered by praise or blame?

Seeing this universe as sheer illusion and being without any interest in it, how can the steady-minded one feel fear even as death approaches?

Whose mind is indifferent and without expectation, the great sage is at ease in self-knowledge. To whom can that one be compared?

Knowing this visible world by its very nature isn’t anything substantial, how could the steady-minded one prefer one thing or deny another?

In the final view, unbound from attachments, beyond divisions, and free from desires, all ordinary experience brings neither pleasure nor pain.

~my free transcreation of Ashtavakra Gita 3.1-14 using the translations of Chinmayananda and Nityaswarupananda et al.