Chapter 6

 

6.1

As the scriptures have said in many ways,

the manifested world of earth, people,

universe and so on, is like water in a mirage.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

To what can it be compared? And by whom?

 

6.2

In Self there is neither division nor unity,

neither action nor stillness.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

Who is there to perform

austerities and offer sacrifices?

 

6.3

Self is eternal and omnipresent,

undivided, all-pervasive,

and without any dimension whatsoever.

Self is One. Self is Absolute.

Thoughts and words cannot touch it.

 

6.4

In Self there is no night or day,

no rising or setting of suns.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be sun and moon

and fire to illuminate it?

 

6.5

In Self there are no concepts

like action and inaction, thought and no-thought,

desire and no-desire. Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be notions of with and without?

 

6.6

Self has no essence, nor does it lack essence.

It is neither full nor empty, void nor manifested.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be such as

first and last, or is and is not?

 

6.7

In Self there are no differences,

nor is there non-difference. There is no knower,

no knowing, no thing to be known.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be a third state of consciousness?

Or a fourth?

 

6.8

All teachings are false.

All that is not taught is false.

What seems to be known is false.

Self alone exists! Limitless, eternal,

all-encompassing. How can there be senses,

intellect, mind and objects?

 

6.9

Space and air are not real.

Earth and fire are not real.

Clouds and water are not real.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be sky and oceans?

 

6.10

In Self there are no worlds or hells or heavens,

no imaginary gods. Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be notions or good and evil?

 

6.11

In Self there is no death or immortality,

no action or inaction. Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How could there be a coming from or going to?

 

6.12

There is no difference

between matter and consciousness.

There is no such thing as cause and effect.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can you speak of Self and not-Self?

 

6.13

There are no gunas, no stages of life.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be infancy, youth or old age?

 

6.14

In Self there are no castes or stages,

no such thing as agent and change.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be the perishable

and the imperishable?

 

6.15

The destroyed and the undestroyed

are both unreal. The devourer and the devoured

are false. The creator and the created are One.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be ideas of destruction

or permanence?

 

6.16

In Self there is no man or beast,

no woman or eunuch, no husband, wife or child.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be vessels of pleasure and pain?

 

6.17

Self is absent of grief or sorrow,

absent of delusion or doubt.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be notions of I and mine?

 

6.18

Self is absent of ideas about vice and virtue,

or ideas about freedom and bondage.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be sorrow or unhappiness?

 

6.19

There is no difference between

the sacrificial rite and the performer of the rite.

There is no difference between

the objects of the rite and the sacrificial fire.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be actions and results of actions?

 

6.20

In Self there is no sorrow or joy,

no pride or humility. Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be passion or dispassion?

 

6.21

In Self there is neither illusion nor absence

of illusion. There is no greed or generosity.

Self alone exists!

Limitless, eternal, all-encompassing.

How can there be discrimination

or non-discrimination?

 

6.22

There is no you nor I.

Stories about caste and family and race are lies.

I am the Absolute, the One Reality.

To what should I offer my devotion?

 

6.23

Concepts of teacher and disciple are absent.

There is no difference between

instruction and reflection.

I am the Absolute, the One Reality.

To what should I offer my devotion?

 

6.24

There is no imagining of separate bodies,

nor illusory worlds.

Uncertainty and certainty are both unreal.

I am the Absolute, the One Reality.

To what should I offer my devotion?

 

6.25

Passion and dispassion are absent.

I am spotless, immovable, immaculate.

I am the Absolute, the One Reality.

To what should I offer my devotion?

 

6.26

There is no difference between

body and no-body.

The apparent actions of life are not happening.

I am the Absolute, the One Reality.

To what should I offer my devotion?

 

6.27

Where knowing cannot go,

how can there be knowledge?

Supremely pure and free,

absorbed in infinite bliss,

the Avadhuta spontaneously sings

the song of Absolute Reality.