Nothing to Lose (Ashtavakra Gita 13.3-13.5) - 25th November 2016

Verse number three: realizing that nothing is done, I do what comes and I'm happy. You see, what does this mean? Realizing nothing is done, I do what comes and I'm happy. That once the concept of doership itself is dropped—and we've been stressing on this point—it doesn't mean that you have to go and lead a passive existence in a cave. It just means that there is no doer, but in the light of Consciousness, this movie is still playing. The next scene is appearing. The movement of this body continues, just like your breathing continues, your heart continues to beat. All actions can continue. You don't... you might become a missionary like Shankara, or you might become a recluse like Ashtavakra. We don't know any of these things. We're just watching this movie play out. But because I don't identify with doership, I remain happy.

Fourth: yogis who preach either effort or non-effort are still attached to the body. I neither dissociate nor associate with any of that; I am happy. You see, so preach either effort or non-effort. See, so this is talking about the various schools of practice and various schools of Jnana. That if you're saying you have to do this, this, this, this, this, then you're still referring to me as if I'm a separate entity. Now all of this is gone, you see. I neither associate nor dissociate; I just remain as I am.

So this is the continuation of abiding in the Self. What does that look like? As we're letting go of these thoughts, effortless presence is here and effortless awareness of this presence is here. And I see that I am this awareness. From this point I can say I am not concerned with any of this, either effort or non-effort. I have nothing to gain or lose by standing, walking, or sitting down. So whether I stand, walk, or sit, I am happy.

This reminded me actually, Byron Katie had said something... that all you're basically doing is standing, sitting, or lying down maybe, and all the rest is just minor. So he says that in the movement of this body—that is standing, sitting, lying down—what happens to me as awareness? It remains unchanged, unmoved. What will I get by extreme effort? Will I become more awareness? If I'm just lying on the bed all day, will I become less awareness? Is it? No. Awareness is just aware. None of this movement or actions of the body really makes any difference to the reality of who I am.