CH 3 Test of S R 1

[Guest guest]

CHAPTER 3 Test of Self-realization (Astavakra Samhita)

 

Astavakra said:

 

1. Having known yourself as really indestructible and the One, how is

it you, knower of the Self and serene, feel attached to the acquisition of

wealth?

 

The dialogue between Astavakra and Janaka in Ch. 3 and 4 is most exciting

and illuminating. It brings out very clearly the exact condition and status

of one who is firmly established in Self-knowledge.

 

The liberated person realizes at all times and under all conditions that

whatever exists in the universe is nothng but his own Self on which

awareness of body, mind and universe has been superimposed. The man of

Self-knowledge lives, moves and has his being in the fullness of this

self-consciousness. He ever remains unidentified with the actions performed

by his body, mind and senses, and is completely free from the sense of

egoism. All his actions are therefore merely apparent and do not in any way

detract from the supreme state. He may be in the body, but never for a

moment, whatever he may do, is he of the body.

 

The difference between an ignorant man and the man of Self-knowledge lies

not in the actions they perform, but in the consciousness with which they

perform their actions. In the case of the man of Self-knowledge this

difference of consciousness is not easily perceived by ordinary people and

may pass quite unrecognized by them. Therefore, although two persons

outwardly appear to be the same, they are actually poles apart.

 

This truth is focussed through the life of Janaka who is fully established

in Self-knowledge. His conventional behaviour is viewed from the standpoint

of the ignorant man and from the standpoint of the liberated man in order to

bring into clear perspective the difference between the two.

 

The present chapter is designed to test Janaka's Self-knowledge. One by

one, Astavakra points to instances in Janaka's behavior as serious

deviations from the life of a liberated person and accuses him of acting in

ignorance.

 

The next chapter will come as Janaka's penetrating reply in which he ably

meets the challenge from his teacher. He demolishes the accusations by

proving himself to be ever dwelling in Self-knowledge and completely

unidentified with his own mental and physical actions and therefore beyond

the domain of value judgements.

 

to be continued....

[Guest guest]

At 12:58 AM 28/04/01, you wrote:

>He demolishes the accusations by

>proving himself to be ever dwelling in Self-knowledge and completely

>unidentified with his own mental and physical actions and therefore beyond

>the domain of value judgements.

 

 

in other words ..

he is out of his body ...