Chapter-11, Verse 1

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 11.1

अष्टावक्र उवाच 

भावाभावविकारश्च स्वभावादिति निश्चयी। निर्विकारो गतक्लेशः सुखेनैवोपशाम्यति॥१॥

1. He who has understood with certitude that change in the form of existence and destruction is inherent in things, he becomes unperturbed and free from pains and easily finds his peace. 

In this chapter Aṣṭāvakra gives eight lessons in re-educating the intellectual values entertained by the student. During this discourse, the sage paints the inner personality of a Man of Perfection. Aṣṭāvakra invites us to enter into the intellect of a Man of Self-realisation and he makes us see things as the wise man does. 

Through the study of the scriptures and through independent reflections upon the pregnant declarations of the great Rishis of the Upaniṣads, the student must grow into a deep conviction of the spiritual viewpoints of the world around him. A mere information gathering intellect cannot progress on the spiritual journey; nor, can a vague understanding really help us much. 

The world, as it is, must be understood with an unshakable certitude that can change the very colour and texture of our view of life and of our mental, intellectual and physical relationships with others. He who has understood with certitude that existence and destruction are the inherent nature of the things that constitute the universe of change, is the one who can immediately discover a great amount of tranquillity in his bosom. 

No intelligent man will sit on the seashore and complain at the rising and the disappearing of the waves; he knows that this is the inherent nature of the waves. No one will complain at the rising and the setting of the sun each day, because all of us know that this is the inherent nature of the sun. Similarly, a student of philosophy comes to understand with certitude that, like bubbles in the waters, everything in the universe must constantly keep on changing. His mind, therefore, will not any longer revolt against this inherent nature of the world around him. 

When this evanescent nature of things is realised, we cannot get ourselves any longer deeply attached to them. Naturally mental peace must come to flood the bosom of such a seeker. 

Yogavāsiṣṭha says: ‘These endless thought eruptions, their rising and disappearance, are ever for your terrible sorrows and never, never for your happiness.’ (imā vicitrāḥ kalanāḥ bhāvābhāvamayātmikāḥ, duḥkhāyaiva tavogrāya na sukhāya kadācana.  ~Yogavāsiṣṭha-5.52.12)