Ashtavkr Samhita : 5

References from : Astavakra Samhita :

Commentator Swami Nityaswarupananda ji, Advaita Ashram, Kolkata.

Edition October 2010.

Important explanations as quoted  in  : Ch 3 Sh : 5,10,11,12,13,14.

It is strange that the SENSE of ownership should still continue in the wise, one who has realized the Self in all, and all in Self.

It is explained further that the SENSE of DUALITY in which the true nature of the Self, is unknown and other things are considered to be existing outside Oneself.

Feted, feasted, or tormented, the SERENE person ever sees the Absolute Self and is thus neither gratified nor angry. Serene is one whose mind is not agitated even when there are causes to make it so.

Praise and blame always have reference to behavior which is expressed through bodily and mental actions. But if a person knows that his bodily and mental actions have no connection with his True self, he is not affected by praise or blame.

The Self is eternal, birth less deathless. Birth and death are really Illusory phenomena. A Knower of the Self, therefore, has no reason to be afraid of the dissolution of the body, by which the Self is not affected in the least.

(Because he is fulfilled. Even desire for liberation pre-supposes ignorance and the state of bondage.)

The Self alone is existent. Everything else is really non-existent. And is but an illusory super imposition on the Self. Hence the wise become un-attached to the objects of the world, and neither hankers after those objects which gives pleasure , nor shun those which give pain.

(Object of experience : : All our pleasure and pains arise from the content of the senses with pleasure giving or pain producing objects, thus causing us to desire the former and hate the later. But if we feel neither attraction nor repulsion for sense objects and allow them to come as a matter of course, they cannot produce any pleasurable or painful sensations.

With Courtesy  and Pranam to SWAMI Ji…..