ASTAVAKRA GITA
ЁЯНБ *CHAPTER 1*
King Janaka despite being involved in his regular duties, wanted to know more.
Once while sitting in the courtroom he had dream and when he came out of the dream he was confused if the courtroom is reality or the dream that he was having was reality?
ЁЯМ╕ Similarly in our life sometimes things gets so worse/good that for once we are not able to believe are these for real? E.g.: May be sudden demise of some dear one or may be we hear some unexpected good news.
ЁЯМ╕ So, we all have come across such a situation in our life where we have doubted the reality of the particular event.
ЁЯМ╕ *Activity:* Let us list out any 2 such events, where we have doubted the reality.
Conversation between king Janka and sage Ashtavakra is the most unique conversation that has ever happened on this planet.
*ASHTAVAKRA GITA:* song of ashtavakra where he is telling what the reality is!
It is very difficult for us to recognize truth and reality. We can easily recognize splendour but we are unable to see the life which is deep inside.
That is why there are certain qualifications needed to acquire this knowledge.
ЁЯМ╖ *Discipline of body:* one should have reverence for life and discipline of body.
i. With disciple of body I also understand having say over our senses e.g. : how much eat, when to sleep etc.
ii. *Activity:* Let us check for 5 days if we are able to listen to our body throughout the day? Let us contemplate on this for 5 mins at the end of the day.
ЁЯМ╖. *Discipline of speech:* Discipline is required in words and speech
i. Power of speech is given to create silence not turbulence in someone's mind.
ii. Even in anger there is no need to use harsh words.
iii. MAIN OBJECTIVE OF SILENCE: to make one aware what they says.
iv. *OUR WORDS ARE TO BLESS PEOPLE AND BRING PEACE TO THE WORLD*
v. *Activity:* Take a vow not to utter any harsh words for next 5 days.
ЁЯМ╖ *Culturing mind:* One who has not meditated should not touch the book as in they can easily make concepts out of it.
i. An ignorant person is ignorant but one who thinks he is knowledgeable is more ignorant.
Never think wrong about ourselves like I am not sincere or I am bad else WE ARE DISQUALIFYING OURSELF. Just be aware of this tendency.
Janaka asked sage ashtavakra: *HOW HE COULD BE FREE? HE SAID HE KNEW IT ALL INTELLECTUALLY(like us ЁЯШЫ ) BUT HOW TO DO IT PRACTICALLY?*
*KEY IS - Not to get stuck:* we are stuck in both pleasant and unpleasant, good and bad, with what we have and what we don’t have.
ЁЯМ╕ *Activity:* contemplate once a week if we got stuck into something and just be aware about it. Q: How to know if we got stuck? Just observe if there was feverishness for certain situation/object/person.
ЁЯМ╕ We also sometimes get stuck with knowledge.
Tradition in ancient India - not to answer unless it is asked for. So, only when question is asked, one should answer and it should be asked in a proper way. If someone demands answers do not answer them. Be silent. Never answer a question if time and place is not right.
ЁЯМ╕ *Activity:* For 5 days keep a tab if we are giving any advice to someone which is not even asked for?
Attributes of disciple are: Respect and Love.
King Janaka asks *HOW WOULD HE GET THE KNOWLEDGE?* Whole gita starts with *HOW?*
If we have given small responsibility, how much attached we get to it and become so much entangled.
Someone who has no responsibility can feel very detached but if someone who is responsible for whole society/ kingdom says I am not doing anything inspite of their responsible job then that is enlightenment.
Janka didn’t run away, he said he knew he should be detached, should feel the freedom, he should be knowledgeable but it was not dawning on him.
Then ashtavakra begins discourse.
