The Heart Of Awareness

If you wish to be free, shun the cravings of the senses. Seek the nectar of truth, of love and forgiveness, simplicity and happiness.

If you wish to be free, know you are the Self, the witness of all, the Heart of Awareness. You will at once be happy, forever still, forever free.

Joy and sorrow, these are of the mind only. They are not yours. It is not really you who acts or enjoys. You are everywhere, forever free. The single witness of all things.

But if you see yourself as separate, then you are bound. "I do this. I do that." The big black snake of selfishness has bitten you!

Know you are one, pure awareness. With the fire of this conviction, burn down the forest of ignorance. Free yourself from sorrow. Be happy! For you are joy, unbounded joy. You are awareness itself.

The Self looks like the world, but this is just an illusion. The Self is everywhere. One. Still. Free. Perfect.

Awareness without action, clinging or desire. Meditate on the Self. One without two. Give up the illusion of the separate self. Give up the feeling, within or without, that you are this or that.

Because you think you are the body, for a long time you have been bound. Know you are Pure Awareness, your Nature is Pure Awareness. You are flowing in all things, and all things are flowing in you.

~ The Ashtavakra Gita ~
Thomas Byron translation