Observations placeholder

12: Abiding in the Self

Janaka said:

12.1 Becoming first intolerant of action, then of excessive speech, then of thought itself, I come to be here.

12.2 Neither sounds nor other sense perceptions attract my attention. Even the Self is unperceived. The mind is free, undistracted, one-pointed. And here I am.

12.3 Effort is required to concentrate a distracted mind superimposed with illusion. Knowing this, I remain here.

12.4 Nothing to reject, nothing to accept. No joy, no sorrow. Lord God I am here.

12.5 The four stages of life, life without stages, meditation, renunciation, objects of mind— nothing but distractions. I am forever here.

12.6 Doing and not-doing both arise from ignorance. I know this. And I am here.

12.7 Thinking of the unthinkable One unavoidably conjures thought. I choose no-thought and remain here.

12.8 Blessed is he who attains this by effort. Blessed is he who is such by nature.