Monakhos

You are neither earth, nor water, nor fire, nor air, nor space. In order to attain liberation, know the Self as witness of all these and as Consciousness itself.

Ashtavakra Samhita 1:3

Whenever I’m looking for something devotional to read, I always end up with the Ashtavakra Samhita (Gita.) I’m not sure why, but I seem to remember being blown away by it the first time and I guess the memory brings me back to it.

The translation by Swami Nityaswarupananda (Advaita Ashrama publishers) is my favorite. It’s a little clunky to read (it has Sanskrit, a literal translation, and then the paraphrase for each verse and some commentary), but that helps in a way because it keeps me from skimming pages and flying through it.

Julie wrote a little on my previous post introducing choice in a post entitled “Why Should I Care?” I think (if I took her post the right way) that she did bring up a good point. You can get so lost in all these ideas that sometimes it is best to simply step back and be. Don’t worry about whether or not you can actual make a choice, just live.

I really think that is the answer to the questions too. Somehow we make decisions and somehow we don’t make decisions at all. Predestination/karmic influences/dependent arising happen somewhere and yet we still control our own destinies. It is fatalistic and yet it isn’t. If that doesn’t make your head spin, what will?

So sorry to those of you who were expecting me to know the answer. Then again, I’m not sorry. I know the answer. The answer is: yes.

Some of you may remember a few posts I had a few months back on existence, the universe and so on (here are the links if you missed them: Part I, Part II, Part II-2, and Part III.) I forget exactly why this one was never published (other than it obviously being incomplete.) There aren’t any answers, just questions. I thought I would post the questions today and maybe follow up with some answers (or ideas about answers rather) later this week.

It may seem that with all the interdependent arising going on with all the karmic influences everywhere there is not really any room for an individual to make his or her own choices. How does the whole ‘free will’ business play into this projection of the universe? Can we really make a decision, or is everything predetermined?

… To be continued

Completely give up such distinctions as ‘I am He’ and ‘I am not this.’ Consider all as the Self and be desireless and happy.
Ashtavakra Samhita (Gita) XV.15

I read this last night, and thought it would fit well as an addendum to Part II of my series. Join in the discussion on the Ashtavakra Gita at the Wisdom Reading Group.

In the secret cave of the heart, two are seated
By life’s fountain. The separate ego
Drinks of the sweet and bitter stuff,
Liking the sweet, disliking the bitter,
While the supreme Self drinks sweet and bitter
Neither liking this nor disliking that.
The ego gropes in darkness, while the Self
Lives in the light. So declare the illumined sages
And the householders who worship
The sacred fire in the name of the Lord.
The Katha Upanishad 3:1 – Eknath Easwaran (tr.)

It’s always interesting how the perfect verse is always waiting for the perfect time. Earlier today I posted a haiku about work, and how, sometimes it is a test of my patience. Sometimes things are just flustering. Sometimes they are bitter. The ego dislikes these times, while the supreme Self, while partaking of the same fountain remains calm, and neither dislikes or likes one over the other.

Unpleasant times are inherent in human life. In our lives there will be difficulty and suffering. I was just reading up on the Four Noble Truths in Thich Nhat Hanh’s “The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching” after I wrote the word suffering and found that the root of the Chinese character that represents suffering in Chinese Buddhism means bitter! He goes on to describe how there are bitter and sweet things in our lives and that healing is possible!

Once again, I start reading and am instantly touched!