Aṣṭāvakra Saṃhitā
A Dialogue on Self-realization
Chapter 18, Verse 95
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Ashtavakra Gita 18.95 -
ज्ञ: सचिन्तोऽपि निश्चिन्त: सेन्द्रियोऽपि निरिन्द्रिय: ।
सुबुद्धिरपि निर्बुद्धि: साहङ्कारोऽनहङ्कृति:
jñaḥ sacinto’pi niścintaḥ sendriyo’pi nirindriyaḥ .
subuddhir-api nirbuddhiḥ sāhaṅkāro’nahaṅkṛtiḥ .. 18-95..
Though with thoughts, the Knower is without thinking, though with senses is without senses, though with a noble intelligence, is without intelligence, though with ego, is without ego.
Commentary by Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
Why is the Sage presenting so many mutually contradictory statements to describe the life-style of a Knower? Entire world and its whole contents embody such contradictions. Think of an atom. It consists of revolving electron and a stationary nucleus. Every celestial body in the universe is moving in its orbit with tremendous speed. But the universe as a whole does not. A vehicle runs on the road that remains still. In fact, without such a non-moving base, the vehicle cannot move at all.
Our body and everything in it move. Blood circulates. Within, the mind thinks. Thoughts and emotions, etc. are revolving. Go deeper down, we have the intelligence and ego. All are vibrant and active. But all this is possible only because something deeper in the centre remains as a non-moving pivot, around which the concentric circles remain functional. This is how the Soul, unlike all else, is immovable and imperishable.
The Knower has his locus in the Soul. So he is not the revolving thoughts, but the still Spirit. The senses are in his body, but not in him, in the Soul, which is different from the active body. Likewise, you will find the Knower functions with a good intelligence, but he, as the Soul, is devoid of it. Similarly, like everybody else, his personality also has an ego. But it does not affect or involve him, the Self. These are not contradictions. They are amazing complements making the real harmony of life and world.
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