Ashtavakra Gita Verse 18.50
स्वातन्त्र्यात्सुखमाप्नोति स्वातन्त्र्याल्लभते परम् । स्वातन्त्र्यान्निर्वृतिं गच्छेत्स्वातन्त्र्यात्परमं पदम् ॥ ५० ॥
By Inner Freedom one attains happiness, by Inner Freedom one reaches the Supreme, by Inner Freedom one comes to absence of thought, by Inner Freedom to the Ultimate State.
The meaning of this verse is that the True Source of happiness, liberation, peace and perfection is not dependent on any external factors, but on one's own Inner Freedom. Inner Freedom is the Realization of one's True Nature as Pure Awareness, the Witness of all phenomena, unattached and formless. Inner Freedom is not a result of any action, but a state of being that is always available to those who abide in their own Self. Inner freedom is the essence of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, which teaches that there is no difference between the individual Self and the Supreme Self, and that all duality is illusory.
The verse implies that one who has attained Inner Freedom does not need any other means or practices for achieving happiness, liberation, peace and perfection. All these are natural consequences of Inner Freedom, which is the highest goal and the highest state of existence. One who has Inner Freedom is free from all bondage, ignorance, desire, fear, sorrow and suffering. One who has Inner Freedom is established in the Bliss of the Self, which is beyond all description and comparison.
The verse also suggests that Inner Freedom is the only way to transcend the mind and its modifications, which are the cause of all confusion and delusion. By Inner Freedom, one comes to the absence of thought, which is not a state of dullness or inertia, but a state of Pure Awareness, which is the substratum of all thoughts. By inner freedom, one attains the Ultimate State, which is not a state of becoming or changing, but a state of Being, which is the Reality of all states.
Similar verses from other Vedic texts, are as follows:
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
आत्मानं चेद्विजानीयादयमस्मीति पूरुषः |
किमिच्छन्कस्य कामाय शरीरमनुसञ्ज्वरेत् ||
If a person knows the Self as "I am this", what could he desire and what could he suffer for the sake of the body?
The Knowledge of the Self is the sole Reality and the identity of the Self and Brahman, the Supreme Reality, is the source of Freedom from all desire and suffering. The verse implies that the body and the world are not real, but are mere appearances in the Self, and that one who knows this is not affected by them.
- Maitri Upanishad
यदा चर्मवदाकाशं वेष्टयिष्यन्ति मानवाः |
तदा देवमुनिर्ज्ञात्वा सुखी स्याद्बहुधा जनः ||
When people will be able to cover the sky with leather, then by knowing God and the Sage, one will be happy in many ways.
The verse uses a metaphor to illustrate the impossibility of attaining happiness by external means, and the necessity of knowing the Inner Reality of God and the Sage, who are one and the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment