Ashtavakra Gita 1.10 - Teachings on Self-Realization and Liberation

The point of emphasis is again the presence in the body, which animates and activates it variously. Yes, it is the Consciousness, indefinable, but experiential indeed. Consciousness, by its very nature, is pleasant, delightful, blissful. For, nothing can taint it at all, as it is the witness of all existence, experience and knowledge – factors which constitute our life and interactions. This understanding is what makes the seeker conscious of Consciousness and realize that it is blissful to the core.

Maharshi illustrates how one tends to be unaware of this truth and goes on suffering variously. His mind and intelligence, together, make him deluded about virtually everything in the world. Inner mind is the source of all experiences, nay life itself. Everything proceeds from the mind and also retreats to the mind. Early in the morning you wake up yourself. Then begins to work your awareness. It senses the body and then the objects around, nay the whole world.

But this mind basically suffers from its delusion. It is due to a superimposed perception. A rope lies on the floor of your house. The vision is hazy. You feel it is a snake, and keep back, wondering how to drive it away. It does not occur to you that a snake cannot suddenly creep into the smooth floor to be there to frighten you.

Suppose you want to verify the object and bring light to see it clearly. The same eyes find the object to be a rope. The similarity between the two made the object a snake for you, till it was examined in the presence of light and verified.

The Sage says it is such a superimposition that takes place in the case of our inner perceptions. The subject Consciousness is what is always present. It always witnesses all objects, including your body. Objects are reflected in it and read. There is no question of the Subject Consciousness becoming any time an object. Yet, we miss this fact, this reality, and suffer variously.

The one cause for it is the basic superimposition of the snake over the rope, the object features on the subject consciousness. No external light can be taken inside to show you the rope-part of the illusion. Your own mind and intelligence, through their introspection, have to light up within and reveal the delusion.

Understand that the Consciousness is the witness ‘alone’. It only witnesses, never becomes what it witnesses. Where is any doubt, fear or otherwise then? What you see is the rope alone. It has never become the snake, even when you look and find it to be so. This point is very important.

Be no more deluded, do not misperceive or misunderstand. Remain ever as the witness Subject Consciousness, and hence be blissful to the core. Retain this position and its blessedness. Do not fail to grasp and preserve your blissful, super blissful nature, ānanda-paramānanda. The whole universe you perceive within you, is a superimposition on you the Consciousness.
Then what is the so called bondage? It is your not knowing and not accepting your real nature, and not being conscious of it always. Mend this wrong, fill this gap. Know that you verily are the unconditioned, unaffected blissful Consciousness!