Aṣṭāvakra Saṃhitā
A Dialogue on Self-realization
Chapter 1, Verse 11
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Ashtavakra Gita 1.11 - Teachings on Self-Realization and Liberation
मुक्ताभिमानी मुक्तो हि बद्धो बद्धाभिमान्यपि ।
किंवदन्तीह सत्येयं या मति: सा गतिर्भवेत्
muktābhimānī mukto hi baddho baddhābhimāny-api .
kiṃ-vadantīha satyeyaṃ yā matiḥ sā gatir-bhavet .. 1-11..
One who assiduously feels that he is liberated becomes liberated. And one who feels that he is bound becomes bound. The proverb current here is true. Whatever one thinks, that he really becomes.
Commentary by Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
Ashtavakra Maharshi is bringing in a very beautiful illustration in the form of a proverbial statement that is current in the world.
He says, “Whatever the mind thinks, that it verily becomes.” This is a saying common and relevant in the world. It is with regard to all matters pertaining to the mind. Just like external physical and chemical laws, internally there are psycho-philosophical laws which govern the mind, intelligence and ego. This is one such.
Whatever the mind assiduously thinks, that it verily becomes. Thinking is the power and quality of the mind. And the mind achieves everything through this thinking process. So engage the mind in thinking that you are liberated, already free.
“I am free, I am free, I am free, I am unhindered, I am unhindered, I am un-associated, I am un-attached”, go on thinking in this manner. Automatically, by virtue of such thinking and reflection, mind picks up the quality and becomes the quality. Do not complicate matters. It is the power of the mind to think what it wants to be. The process is applicable to spiritual life and the art of getting liberation.
Here no other philosophy is involved. Even the idea of the Self is not brought. It is the mind that feels bondage, it is the mind that suffers. Deciding to be free, it becomes free!
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