Seeing deeply, I recognized that the distinctions between ashramas and non-ashramas, the practice of meditation, and even the mind’s acceptance of thoughts are all mere concepts—fabrications of understanding. With this insight, I have found my resting place, untroubled by such constructs. Just as action falls away in the absence of ignorance, so too, having understood the truth, I have settled into stillness. Whenever I try to think of the unthinkable, it simply becomes another thought. Knowing this, I have set aside such contemplation and remain at peace. Whoever lives in this way finds true fulfillment; possessing this very nature, one is complete. King Janaka spoke: “The state of having nothing and being established in oneself is exceedingly rare, even for one who owns nothing but a loincloth. Having relinquished both acceptance and renunciation, I sit here at ease. The body may tire in one place, the tongue in another, the mind elsewhere, but having let go of these, I abide happily in the Self. Truly reflecting that nothing is ever done, whenever something arises to be done, I do it and remain at ease. For the yogi abiding in the body, there is no insistence on action or inaction; because there is neither union nor separation, I sit here at ease. Gain and loss do not belong to me, whether I am standing, walking, or lying down. Thus, in any posture, I sit here at ease. There is no loss for me in sleep, nor accomplishment in striving; having abandoned both decline and elation, I am at peace. Observing again and again that states such as happiness and sorrow exist only in the mind, I have let go of both auspicious and inauspicious, and I sit here at ease. One whose mind is naturally empty, but who contemplates objects inadvertently, is like one who is asleep though awake—his memory is spent. Where, for me, are possessions, friends, or sense objects? Where is scripture or knowledge, when all desire has fallen away? Having realized the witness-self, the supreme Self, the Lord, and being free from hope, bondage, or liberation, I have no concern for liberation. For one empty of inner concepts and moving freely outwardly, the states that arise are like those of a deluded person—only such a one knows them.” Ashtavakra then said: “By whatever means he is instructed, the wise one who has attained fulfillment is satisfied; but the seeker, even for a lifetime, remains confused. Liberation is simply indifference to sense objects; bondage is the taste for them. This alone is to be understood—then act as you wish. Realizing the truth renders even the eloquent, wise, and energetic person mute, dull, and inactive; thus, those who desire worldly enjoyment abandon it. You are not the body, nor does the body belong to you; you are neither the enjoyer nor the doer. You are consciousness itself, always the witness, unattached—move about happily. Attachment and aversion are qualities of the mind, and the mind is never yours. You are consciousness itself, undivided, unchanging—move about happily. Recognize the Self in all beings and all beings in the Self; become free of ego and possessiveness, and be happy. That in which this universe shines forth, like waves in the ocean—that alone is the truth, without doubt. O embodiment of consciousness, be free from distress. Have faith, dear one, have faith—do not be deluded. The Self, your true nature, is knowledge itself, divine, and beyond nature. The body, clothed in qualities, stands, moves, and goes, but the Self neither goes nor comes—why grieve for it? Let the body remain until the end of an age or depart today—where is increase or decrease for you, who are pure consciousness alone? In you, the infinite ocean, the waves of the universe arise by their own nature; whether they rise or fall, there is neither gain nor loss for you. You are pure consciousness alone; this world is not separate from you. For whom, how, and where can there be acceptance or rejection? In you, the one, imperishable, peaceful, pure space of consciousness, how can there be birth, action, or even ego? Whatever you perceive, it is you alone appearing. Do bracelets, armlets, or anklets shine apart from the gold? Abandon the division, ‘This is me, this is not me.’ Realizing that all is the Self, be free of all notions and be happy. Through ignorance, the world appears; in reality, you are one. There is no other who is bound or liberated apart from you. Be certain that this world is mere illusion and nothing else. Free of desires, consisting only of awareness, you become as if nothing, and are at peace. In the one ocean of existence, there is only one—past, present, and future. For you, there is no bondage or liberation, nothing to do or not do—move about happily. Do not disturb your mind with thoughts and doubts, O embodiment of consciousness. Be calm, remain happily in your own Self, the very form of bliss. Abandon meditation entirely; do not hold anything in your heart. You are the Self, already free—what will you accomplish by deliberation? Ashtavakra continued: “You may explain or listen to countless scriptures, my dear, but you will not find your own ease except by forgetting everything. Enjoyment, action, or meditation—do as you wish, wise one, yet your mind, freed from all desires, will delight exceedingly. Everyone suffers from effort; few know this truth. By this teaching, the fortunate attain peace. He who is troubled even by activity in the blink of an eye is the foremost among the lazy; happiness belongs to him, not to anyone else. When the mind is freed from the dualities of ‘this is done, this is not,’ it becomes indifferent to righteousness, wealth, pleasure, and liberation.