Brief Summary
This chapter of the Ribhu Gita focuses on the method of inhering in the all-inclusive and undifferentiated reality to achieve ultimate bliss and liberation. It emphasizes the need to become one with the immutable, tranquil, non-dual absolute supreme being through constant practice and discarding all dualistic perceptions. The chapter reiterates the importance of abiding in a state free from thoughts, desires, and all forms of duality, ultimately realizing the self as the supreme absolute reality.
- Inherence in reality leads to becoming one with the absolute supreme being.
- Constant practice and discarding duality are essential for firm knowledge.
- Abiding in a state free from thoughts and desires leads to ultimate bliss.
Introduction to Chapter 26
Chapter 26 of the Ribhu Gita begins with the speaker stating that they will explain the method of inhering in the all-inclusive and undifferentiated reality. This teaching is described as secret and difficult to understand, requiring more than just scriptural knowledge. Even celestial beings and dedicated spiritual practitioners find it challenging to grasp. The key is to follow the instructions provided and to inhere in reality to achieve happiness.
Becoming One with the Absolute
Realized sages define absolute inherence in reality as becoming one with the immutable, tranquil, non-dual absolute supreme being, which embodies existence, consciousness, bliss, and the self of all. This involves merging the wandering mind with this supreme being, similar to mixing milk and water, and becoming absolutely free from all concepts. By scrutinizing the variety of manifestations, one realizes their non-existence and recognizes everything as the undifferentiated absolute supreme being, which is not different from the self. Constant practice is essential to solidify this knowledge, enabling one to discard everything and merge with the supreme absolute reality, ultimately remaining in that state of bliss.
Abiding in Non-Duality
The text describes abiding as that which, upon scrutiny, reveals no duality in the form of various objects or any trace of cause and effect. When the mind is absorbed in this state, there is no fear of duality. This leads to unshakable happiness and freedom from the fear arising from duality. It involves abiding in a state devoid of thoughts, fancies, peace, self-control, mind, intellect, confusion, certainty, being, non-being, and any perception of duality.
Transcending Qualities and Concepts
The chapter continues by stating that one must abide as that in which there is neither any defect nor good quality, neither pleasure nor pain, neither thought nor silence, and neither misery nor austerities. It is a state free from the "I am the body" idea and devoid of any objects of perception. This abiding leads to happiness, free from all traces of thought.
Freedom from Actions and Thoughts
The text emphasizes abiding as that in which there is no work—physical, mental, or verbal—and neither sin nor virtue, nor attachment or its consequences. It is a state where there are neither thoughts nor a thinker, and neither the arising, preservation, nor dissolution of the world. This abiding leads to happiness, free from all traces of thought.
Beyond Illusion and Ignorance
Abiding as that in which there is neither the self-limiting power of illusion nor its effects, neither knowledge nor ignorance, neither separate soul nor lord of creation, neither being nor non-being, and neither world nor god is crucial. This abiding leads to happiness, free from all traces of thought.
Transcending Divine Aspects and Worship
The text describes abiding as that in which there are no gods or their worship, none of the three divine aspects of creator, preserver, and destroyer, or meditation on them. It transcends the supreme formless god and meditation on him, leading to happiness without the least trace of thought.
Beyond Bondage and Wisdom
Abiding as that in which there is neither maturing bondage to the way of good works, nor searching devotion to the divine, nor self-knowing wisdom is essential. It is a state beyond the fruit of action to be enjoyed, any supreme state separate from it, or any means of attainment or object to be attained, leading to happiness free from all traces of thought.
Transcending Physical and Mental Constructs
The chapter describes abiding as that in which there is neither body nor senses, nor vital forces, neither mind nor intellect, nor fancy or imagination. It transcends ego, ignorance, anyone who identifies themselves with it, the macrocosm, and the microcosm, leading to happiness free from all traces of thought.
Freedom from Desires and Impurities
Abiding as that in which there is neither desire nor anger, neither greed nor delusion, neither ill will nor pride, no impurities of mind, and no false notions of bondage and liberation is crucial. This abiding leads to happiness free from all traces of thought.
Beyond Spatial and Temporal Concepts
The text emphasizes abiding as that in which there is no beginning or end, no top or bottom or middle, no holy place or god, no gifts or pious acts, no time or space, and no objects of perception. This abiding leads to happiness free from all traces of thought.
Transcending Discrimination and Yearning
Abiding as that in which there is no discrimination between the real and the unreal, no absence of desire, no possession of virtues, no yearning for liberation, no competent master or disciple, no steady knowledge, no realized stage, and no liberation while alive or after death is essential. This abiding leads to happiness free from all traces of thought.
Beyond Scriptures and Thoughts
The chapter describes abiding as that in which there are no holy scriptures or sacred books, no one who thinks, no objection or answer to it, no theory to be established, and no theory to be rejected. It is a state where there is nothing other than oneself, leading to happiness free from the least trace of thought.
Freedom from Debate and Difference
Abiding as that in which there is no debate, no success or failure, no word or its meaning, no speech, and no difference between the soul and the supreme being is crucial. It transcends the manifold causes and consequences, leading to happiness without the least trace of thought.
Beyond Practice and Contradictions
The text emphasizes abiding as that in which there is no need for listening, reflecting, and practicing, no meditation to be practiced, and no differences of sameness, otherness, or internal contradictions. It transcends all words and their meanings, leading to happiness free from the least trace of thought.
Transcending Fears and Worlds
Abiding as that in which there are no fears of hell, no joys of heaven, no worlds of the creator god or the other gods, or any object to be gained from them is essential. It transcends any other world or universe of any kind, leading to happiness without the least trace of thought.
Freedom from Elements and Concepts
The chapter describes abiding as that in which there is nothing of the elements, not even an iota of their derivatives, no sense of "I" or mind, no fantasies of the mind, no blemish of attachment, and no concept whatsoever. This abiding leads to happiness without the least trace of thought.
Transcending Bodies and Afflictions
Abiding as that in which there are none of the three kinds of bodies (gross physical, subtle internal, or formless and most subtle), no dreaming and sleeping, none of the three kinds of souls (those who are fully prepared to advance spiritually, those who are not fully prepared, and those who are not prepared at all), and none of the three kinds of afflictions (those of the body, those caused by the elements, and those caused by subtle beings and powers) is crucial. It also transcends the five functional layers of being (gross physical, vital, emotional, psychic, mental, and that of formless bliss) and anyone who identifies themselves with them, leading to happiness without the least trace of thought.
Beyond Powers and Notions
The text emphasizes abiding as that in which there is no sentient object, no power to hide reality, no difference of any kind, no power of projecting unreal objects, no power of any other kind, and no false notion about the world. This abiding leads to happiness without the least trace of thought.
Realizing Transcendent Bliss
Abiding as that in which there are no sense organs or anyone to use them, that in which transcendent bliss is experienced, that which is absolutely immediate, that by which realizing and attaining one becomes immortal, and that by becoming which one does not return to this cycle of births and deaths is essential. This abiding leads to happiness without the least trace of thought.
Experiencing Oneness and Liberation
The chapter describes abiding as that on realizing and experiencing the bliss of which all joys appear to be the joys of that, that which when clearly known to be oneself shows there is nothing apart from oneself, and knowing which all kinds of separate souls become liberated. This abiding leads to happiness without the least trace of thought.
Accomplishing Every Purpose
Abiding as that on realizing which to be oneself there is nothing else to be known, everything becomes already known, and every purpose is accomplished is crucial. This abiding leads to happiness without the least trace of thought.
Attaining Supreme Satisfaction
The text emphasizes abiding as that which is attained easily when one is convinced that one is not different from the supreme absolute, that which results when that conviction becomes firm in the experience of the supreme bliss of the real, and that which produces a sense of incomparable and complete satisfaction when the mind is absorbed in it. This abiding leads to happiness without the least trace of thought.
Abiding in Undifferentiated Reality
Abiding as that which is undifferentiated existence, undifferentiated consciousness, undifferentiated bliss, absolutely non-dual, and the undifferentiated absolute reality is essential. With the firm conviction that you are that, be always happy.
The Basis of All
The chapter describes abiding as that which is "I" as well as "you" as well as everyone else, is the basis of all, is one without anything else whatsoever, is extremely pure, and is the undifferentiated whole. With the firm conviction that you are that, be always happy.
Cessation of Ego and Desires
Abiding as that in which there are no concepts or anything else whatsoever, the ego ceases to exist, all desires disappear, the mind becomes extinct, and all confusions come to an end is crucial. With the firm conviction that you are that, be always happy.
Dissolution of Thoughts and Convictions
The text emphasizes abiding as that in which there is no awareness of the body or the various functions of manifest existence, no perception of objects, that in which the mind is dead, the soul becomes one with the reality, thoughts are dissolved, and even one's convictions no longer hold. With the firm conviction that you are that, be always happy.
Transcending Spiritual Practice
Abiding as that in which there is no longer any meditative spiritual practice, or ignorance or knowledge, or activities of any kind, that which is the supreme reality is essential. With the firm conviction that you are that, be always happy.
Experiencing Pure Bliss
The chapter describes abiding as that in which when one is completely merged with it, one experiences pure bliss, never experiences misery, sees nothing, does not take birth again, never thinks oneself to be a separate individual, and becomes the supreme being. With the conviction that you are that, be always happy.
The Supreme Absolute Reality
Abiding as that which is truly the supreme absolute reality, the supreme formless god, the absolute pure being, the supreme state, absolute consciousness, and the supreme truth is crucial. With the conviction that you are that, be always happy.
The Self-Effulgent One
The text emphasizes abiding as that which is the absolute pure supreme being, absolute bliss, the supremely subtle being, and the self-effulgent non-dual and undifferentiated one. With the conviction that you are that, be always happy.
Eternal Tranquility
Abiding as that which is absolute truth, supreme tranquility, eternal being, absolutely attributeless, the self, and the absolute undifferentiated supreme being is essential. With the conviction that you are that, be always happy.
Everything and Nothing
The chapter describes abiding as that which is everything from the experiential point of view and nothing from the absolute point of view, existence consciousness bliss, always tranquil, with nothing separate from it, and the self-existent being. With the conviction that you are that, be always happy.
Attaining Constant Bliss
Sage Ribhu explains to Nidaga that by constantly thinking that you are the undifferentiated supreme being, you can attain that state and enjoy constant bliss. Having become the supreme absolute reality, you will never experience the misery that comes from identification with birth and death.
Discarding Impure Thoughts
Everything is the supreme being, which is existence consciousness bliss, and "I am that." By constantly cultivating this pure thought, get rid of impure thoughts. Discarding even that thought and always inhering in the state of fullness, you'll become the non-dual and undifferentiated supreme being and attain liberation.
Abiding as That
Pure and impure thoughts are a feature of the mind; there are no wandering thoughts in the supreme being. Abide as that and, free from the pure and impure thoughts of the mind, remain still like a stone or a log of wood. You will then be always happy.
Becoming All-Comprehensive
By constantly thinking of the undifferentiated supreme being and forgetting thereby all thoughts, including the thought of the supreme being, you will become the all-comprehensive supreme being. Even a great sinner who hears and understands this teaching will get rid of all their sins and become the undifferentiated supreme being.
Attaining Purity of Mind
The endless textbooks of spiritual instruction have already prescribed meditation for attaining purity of mind, in order that those who have become pure in mind may easily attain liberation and, realizing that they are absolute and boundless bliss, remain still like a stone in the undifferentiated and all-comprehensive supreme formless god.
Liberation Here and Now
The nature of this immaculate state has been expounded. Attaining purity of mind by constantly thinking that everything that is known is the supreme being and that supreme being is oneself, and thereafter abiding in the state of complete identity with the absolute reality, liberation can be attained here and now.
The True State of Being
Sage Ribhu expounded the true and full state of being to Nidaga. When one is convinced that one is always that which is existence consciousness bliss and abides as that in a state of complete identity, one casts off the unreal bondage of identification with birth and death and attains liberation. This is the significance of the highly blissful mood and dance of our supreme and undifferentiated god.
