The Ashtavakra Gita
Translated by John Richards
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The opening
Chapter I
Janaka: 1 How is knowledge to be acquired? How is liberation to be attained? And how is dispassion to be reached? Tell me this, sir.
Ashtavakra: 2 If you are seeking liberation, my son, shun the objects of the senses like poison. Practise tolerance, sincerity, compassion, contentment and truthfulness like nectar.
3 You are neither earth, water, fire, air or even ether. For liberation know yourself as consisting of consciousness, the witness of these.
4 If only you will remain resting in consciousness, seeing yourself as distinct from the body, then even now you will become happy, peaceful and free from bonds.
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About this edition
- The words
- John Richards's English translation, copied word for word.
- Copied from
- Left out
- The source website's menus, layout and notices, in 2 places
- The title page and opening pages before chapter 1