Sri Ashtavakra says: O dear!
Even after hearing from many scholars or reading many scriptures, you will not
be established in self as after forgetting every single thing. 1
You can either enjoy fruits
of your action or enjoy meditative state. Since you are knowledgeable, stopping
all desires of your mind will give you more pleasure. 2
It is effort which is cause
of everyone's pain but nobody knows it. By following just this flawless
instruction, fortunate become free from all their instincts. 3
Happiness is there only for
an extremely lazy person who considers blinking of eyes also a task. Nobody
else is happy. 4
When mind is free from
confusion of doing and not doing, it does not desire righteousness, wealth, sex
or liberation. 5
Neither he is averse to
senses or is attached to them but he is definitely indifferent to their
acceptance and rejection. 6
As long as there is thought
of acceptance and rejection of senses, seed of this world-tree exists. So, take
shelter in thoughtlessness. 7
Habit gives rise to
attachment and rejection brings aversion. So, an intelligent person should stay
indifferent like a child. 8
A person who is attached to
senses wants to leave this world to avoid the problems. But the one who is
indifferent to these problems does not feel pain. 9
One who wants liberation and
is also attached to his body, is neither knowledgeable nor yogi. He just
suffers. 10
Unless you forget everything
else, you will not be established in self, even though Shiva, Vishnu or Brahma
themselves teach you. 11