Post by GateKeeper on Sept 16, 2012 18:36:57 GMT
Chapter 1: It all starts when King Janaka asks the sage Ashtavakra how he
can attain Knowledge, detachment, liberation. Ashtavakra tells him.
Chapter 2: It works! Upon hearing Ashtavakra’s words Janaka realizes his
True Nature. Enraptured, he describes the joy and wonder of his new state.
Chapter 3: Ashtavakra is delighted for Janaka but sees inconsistencies. He
fires off a series of confrontational verses about attachment to worldly pleasure.
Chapter 4: Janaka asserts that the Lord of the Universe can do as he
pleases.
Chapter 5: Ashtavakra does not disagree, but in a terse four verses points
to the next step—dissolution.
Chapter 6: Janaka says “I know that already,” matching him in style and
number of verses.
Chapter 7: Unable to leave it at that, however, Janaka goes on to further
describe his enlightened state.
Chapter 8: Still hearing too much “I” in Janaka’s language, Ashtavakra
instructs him in the subtleties of attachment and bondage.
Chapter 9: Ashtavakra continues to describe the way of true detachment.
Chapter 10: Ashtavakra hammers away at the folly of desire—no matter
how elevated or subtle.
Chapter 11: Ashtavakra further describes the state of desirelessness to
which he points.
Chapter 12: Janaka replies by describing the state of timeless stillness in
which he now finds himself.
Chapter 13: Janaka, having been instructed by Ashtavakra in Chapter One
to “be happy,” reports that he indeed is.
Chapter 14: Janaka then summarizes his exalted state with calm
indifference.
Chapter 15: Impressed but not through teaching, Ashtavakra relentlessly
points to the vast emptiness of Self.
Chapter 16: Ashtavakra attacks the futility of effort and knowing.
Chapter 17: Ashtavakra describes the nature of one who is truly free.
Chapter 18: Finally, Ashtavakra hits him with everything he’s got—100
verses of pure non-duality. If this doesn’t do it, nothing will.
Chapter 19: It works! Janaka no longer describes his enlightened state, but
can speak only in questions revealing absence.
Chapter 20: In a final flurry of questions pointing only at their own
meaninglessness, Janaka burns off the last vestiges of personhood and enters
dissolution. He ends with: “No more can be said.”
Ashtavakra smiles, nods approvingly, and says no more.
Bart Marshall
August 2005
Click on the link below for the free pdf file
www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=the%20ashtavakra%20gita%20pdf&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.messagefrommasters.com%2FEbooks%2FSpiritual-Books%2FAshtavakra-Gita.pdf&ei=qxpWUMbSO8So0AWYzIGoAQ&usg=AFQjCNHQJcjLeLg1QAO0kmbhiAlJPmqjiA
can attain Knowledge, detachment, liberation. Ashtavakra tells him.
Chapter 2: It works! Upon hearing Ashtavakra’s words Janaka realizes his
True Nature. Enraptured, he describes the joy and wonder of his new state.
Chapter 3: Ashtavakra is delighted for Janaka but sees inconsistencies. He
fires off a series of confrontational verses about attachment to worldly pleasure.
Chapter 4: Janaka asserts that the Lord of the Universe can do as he
pleases.
Chapter 5: Ashtavakra does not disagree, but in a terse four verses points
to the next step—dissolution.
Chapter 6: Janaka says “I know that already,” matching him in style and
number of verses.
Chapter 7: Unable to leave it at that, however, Janaka goes on to further
describe his enlightened state.
Chapter 8: Still hearing too much “I” in Janaka’s language, Ashtavakra
instructs him in the subtleties of attachment and bondage.
Chapter 9: Ashtavakra continues to describe the way of true detachment.
Chapter 10: Ashtavakra hammers away at the folly of desire—no matter
how elevated or subtle.
Chapter 11: Ashtavakra further describes the state of desirelessness to
which he points.
Chapter 12: Janaka replies by describing the state of timeless stillness in
which he now finds himself.
Chapter 13: Janaka, having been instructed by Ashtavakra in Chapter One
to “be happy,” reports that he indeed is.
Chapter 14: Janaka then summarizes his exalted state with calm
indifference.
Chapter 15: Impressed but not through teaching, Ashtavakra relentlessly
points to the vast emptiness of Self.
Chapter 16: Ashtavakra attacks the futility of effort and knowing.
Chapter 17: Ashtavakra describes the nature of one who is truly free.
Chapter 18: Finally, Ashtavakra hits him with everything he’s got—100
verses of pure non-duality. If this doesn’t do it, nothing will.
Chapter 19: It works! Janaka no longer describes his enlightened state, but
can speak only in questions revealing absence.
Chapter 20: In a final flurry of questions pointing only at their own
meaninglessness, Janaka burns off the last vestiges of personhood and enters
dissolution. He ends with: “No more can be said.”
Ashtavakra smiles, nods approvingly, and says no more.
Bart Marshall
August 2005
Click on the link below for the free pdf file
www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=the%20ashtavakra%20gita%20pdf&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.messagefrommasters.com%2FEbooks%2FSpiritual-Books%2FAshtavakra-Gita.pdf&ei=qxpWUMbSO8So0AWYzIGoAQ&usg=AFQjCNHQJcjLeLg1QAO0kmbhiAlJPmqjiA
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