Hope

Your thoughts are like your destiny. So, stop thinking, "I am bound" and be happy!

Krishna and Ashtavakra: The Path and the Goal!

​We often ask, "When Krishna tells you to do karma, why does Ashtavakra say that you are already free?"

​1. Where are you standing?

​Krishna is a support for you. When you are caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and mental conflicts, Krishna teaches you how to walk without falling. That is why he talks about karma. But Ashtavakra is a mirror for you. He shows you who you are. When clouds come and cover the sky, the sun does not disappear, it only hides temporarily. When the wind blows, the clouds change, and the sun shines right there.

​Similar is the happiness within you. Sorrows and problems come and go like clouds. When they come, do not think, "I am sad." Instead, realize, "This is a cloud that comes and goes, I am the sun behind it all." This realization is salvation. You don't have to go anywhere, you just have to sit quietly for those clouds to disappear. That knowledge alone purifies you.

The 'I' state

The 'Doership' state is your biggest burden. Krishna says, give me your karma, and you walk without burden. Ashtavakra goes a step further and asks, "If you don't do it, then to whom can you surrender?" You are a witness, a mere spectator! In that realization, the bonds of karma are untied.

​3. Journey and Rest

​The Bhagavad Gita is a journey. It takes you up step by step. But the Ashtavakra Gita is a rest. It is like saying to a person who is tired of running, "Sit here, you are safe." Ashtavakra is talking about where you will end up at the end of the journey.

​In short:

​Krishna helps you to become liberated, Ashtavakra reminds you that you are liberated. While Krishna gives you 'medicine', Ashtavakra talks about your 'health'. Both are just two sides of the same truth!

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar