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𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌕𑍍𑌰 𑌗𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĶð‘Œķð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘Œ§ð‘ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ𑌃

𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌕𑍍𑌰 𑌗𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū is a 20-chapter dialogue of direct 𑌅ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍈ð‘ŒĪ, moving from questions to recognition to the quiet stabilization of freedom. Its repeated teaching is simple: you are the awareness that knows experience, not the body-mind that is experienced. The aim is not to build a new spiritual identity, but to dissolve the old habit of identification that produces fear, craving, and inner struggle.

In the previous chapters, this recognition has been approached from many angles. Chapter 1 points to the witness (ð‘Œļð‘Œū𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀) and warns against compulsive attachment to ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘ŒŊs. Chapters 2-4 describe recognition and its lived texture. Chapters 5-9 emphasize ð‘Œēð‘ŒŊ and the dropping of grasping and renouncing, and Chapter 10 presses dispassion further by calling ð‘ŒĪ𑍃𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒĢð‘Œū the essence of bondage. Chapter 11 then adds a stabilizer: firm inner conviction (ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘Œķ𑍍𑌚ð‘ŒŊ) that ends mental argument and allows the mind to settle naturally.

Chapter 12 is 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕's response from that settledness. Instead of describing metaphors or debating philosophy, he repeatedly says: 𑌏ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩ 𑌅ð‘Œđð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - "thus, I abide." The verses describe a quiet withdrawal of inner compulsion. Not only does craving drop, but even the effortful project of "managing the mind" relaxes. 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 notices how the mind can get distracted by work, speech, thought, and even by spiritual practices, and he describes a natural settling beyond those swings.

The next chapters continue this portrait of effortless freedom. Chapter 13 repeats ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œū ð‘Œļ𑍁𑌖ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - "as is comfortable" - describing ease amid life. Chapter 14 describes a mind so empty of inner story that ordinary desires and comparisons fall away. Then Chapter 15 returns to 𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌕𑍍𑌰's voice with powerful direct pointers, building toward the longer later chapters that explore freedom in many more facets.

Seen as a whole, Chapter 12 is a chapter of "resting as is." It shows the aftermath of clarity: aversion to noisy busyness, fading attraction to sensory distraction, and the dropping of the constant inner project of achieving a special state. The refrain is not laziness; it is the taste of freedom that comes when the mind stops bargaining with reality and stops trying to turn spirituality into another achievement. The summary is simple: recognition ripens into natural abiding.

𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 𑌉ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌚 āĨĨ
𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘Œđ𑌃 𑌊𑍂𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍋 ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌗𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑌰ð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘Œđ𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌅ð‘ŒĨ 𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘Œđð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍍 𑌏ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œđð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĨ 12-1āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕𑌃 - King Janaka
𑌉ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌚 - said
𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ-𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ-𑌅ð‘Œļð‘Œđ𑌃 - unable to bear bodily activity; weary of bodily doing
𑌊𑍂𑌰𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌂 - before; earlier
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - then; thereafter
ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌕𑍍-ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌰-𑌅ð‘Œļð‘Œđ𑌃 - unable to bear the expansion of speech; weary of excessive talking
𑌅ð‘ŒĨ - then; next
𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū-𑌅ð‘Œļð‘Œđ𑌃 - unable to bear worry/thought-traffic; weary of rumination
ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - therefore; from that
𑌏ð‘Œĩ𑌂 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - thus; in this very way
𑌅ð‘Œđð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - I
𑌆ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - established; abiding

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Janaka said: Earlier I grew weary of bodily busyness; then I grew weary of excessive speech; then I grew weary of constant thinking. Therefore, in this way, I abide.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is not a teaching of aversion; it is a description of ripening. When recognition becomes clear, the mind naturally loses taste for needless noise. 𑌕ð‘Œūð‘ŒŊ-𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ refers to activity driven by restlessness - doing for the sake of doing, or doing to avoid feeling. ð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌕𑍍-ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌰 is not truthful speech; it is the overflow of talk that comes from insecurity, performance, and the need to manage impressions. 𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū is not useful reflection; it is the endless inner commentary that multiplies suffering. 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 says these have become unbearable not because life is bad, but because the mind has tasted a deeper quiet.

This is a practical sign of ð‘Œĩ𑍈𑌰ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍ð‘ŒŊ. Dispassion is often misunderstood as forcing yourself to stop doing things. Here it is simply loss of appetite for compulsive patterns. When you see that the Self is already complete, you no longer need to keep proving yourself through activity, or soothing yourself through chatter, or controlling life through rumination. The earlier chapters pointed to this: bondage is inner compulsion, not outer situation. When compulsion drops, the nervous system begins to rest.

Practice by noticing which layer is currently most active for you: body-busyness, speech-busyness, or thought-busyness. Then apply a gentle reduction, not a harsh suppression. If it is body-busyness, do one task slower and with full attention, and leave one unnecessary task undone. If it is speech-busyness, practice one minute of listening without interrupting, or skip one opinion you do not need to broadcast. If it is thought-busyness, set a two-minute timer and refuse rumination; return to breath and the present action. These small reductions create space for the abiding 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 describes.

𑌊𑍍𑌰𑍀ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œķ𑌎𑍍ð‘ŒĶð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍇𑌰ð‘ŒĶ𑍃ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ 𑌚ð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 āĨĪ
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊𑍈𑌕ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍃ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŊ 𑌏ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œđð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĨ 12-2āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌊𑍍𑌰𑍀ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ-𑌅𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - by absence of attraction; by lack of craving
ð‘Œķ𑌎𑍍ð‘ŒĶ-𑌆ð‘ŒĶ𑍇𑌃 - of sound and other sense-objects
𑌅ð‘ŒĶ𑍃ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - by the fact of being unseen; not an object of sight
𑌚 - and
𑌆ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑌃 - of the Self
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊 - distraction; scattering
𑌏𑌕ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍𑌰 - one-pointedness; forced concentration
ð‘Œđ𑍃ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - (my) heart/mind
𑌏ð‘Œĩ𑌂 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - thus; in this very way
𑌅ð‘Œđð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - I
𑌆ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - established; abiding

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Because there is no attraction to sound and other sense-objects, and because the Self is not a visible object, my mind is free from both distraction and forced concentration. Thus I abide.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is subtle because it names two extremes: ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊 and 𑌏𑌕ð‘Œū𑌗𑍍𑌰. Most people know distraction. But after some spiritual effort, the mind can become attached to a different extreme: forcing one-pointedness as a badge of progress. 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 says his heart is free of both. Why? First, there is 𑌊𑍍𑌰𑍀ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑍍-𑌅𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ toward sensory lure - not because senses are evil, but because craving has weakened. Second, the Self is 𑌅ð‘ŒĶ𑍃ð‘Œķ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - not an object you can "see" like a thing. When you stop treating the Self as an object to attain, the effortful grasping relaxes.

This is a mature point: concentration is a tool, but clinging to concentration becomes another bondage. Advaita emphasizes that the witness is present even when the mind is scattered and even when the mind is focused. Therefore, freedom is not identical with a particular mental state. A scattered mind can still recognize the witness; a concentrated mind can still be egoic. 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 is describing a mind that has stopped turning states into identity.

Practice by shifting from "state-chasing" to "witness-recognition." In a quiet moment, notice one sensory pull (sound, phone, taste). Instead of resisting, see it as an appearance in awareness. Then notice the opposite pull: the desire to control the mind and force stillness. See that too as an appearance. For a few breaths, rest as the knower of both pulls. Then return to life with a simple experiment: do one activity without distraction (one meal, one walk), not to prove concentration, but to taste simplicity. This trains the balance 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 describes.

ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘Œļð‘Œūð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘Œŋ𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍌 ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œĩð‘Œđð‘Œū𑌰𑌃 ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘ŒŊ𑍇 āĨĪ
𑌏ð‘Œĩ𑌂 ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œē𑍋𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œđð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĨ 12-3āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œŋ-𑌆ð‘Œļð‘Œūð‘ŒĶð‘Œŋ - samAdhi and so on (spiritual attainments/practices)
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷ð‘Œŋ𑌊𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍌 - in distraction; in being scattered/occupied
ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œĩð‘Œđð‘Œū𑌰𑌃 - worldly activity; practical dealings
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘ŒŊ𑍇 - for samAdhi; for the sake of settling
𑌏ð‘Œĩ𑌂 - thus
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋð‘Œē𑍋𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - having seen; having observed
ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - the rule; the pattern
𑌏ð‘Œĩ𑌂 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - thus; in this very way
𑌅ð‘Œđð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - I
𑌆ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - established; abiding

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
When one becomes distracted even by samAdhi and such pursuits, one turns to worldly activity for the sake of settling. Seeing this pattern, I abide as I am.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse exposes a subtle trap: spiritual ambition can become another distraction. The mind can chase ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪð‘Œū𑌧ð‘Œŋ the way it chases wealth - as proof of worth. Then even meditation becomes ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌊: a restless project of attainment. 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 observes a pattern: when the mind is scattered by such pursuits, it often swings to ð‘Œĩ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œĩð‘Œđð‘Œū𑌰 (worldly action) as a counterbalance, hoping that activity will make the mind fit for samAdhi. Both can become endless projects.

The point is not to reject meditation or to reject daily work. The point is to stop making "settledness" an achievement. In Advaita, the witness is already present; peace is not manufactured, it is uncovered. When the mind turns spirituality into achievement, it stays in the same pattern of becoming. Seeing this pattern (ð‘ŒĻð‘Œŋð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪ) clearly is itself a kind of freedom: it lets you step out of the pendulum.

Practice by checking your motive in practice. If you meditate, ask: "Am I meditating to be someone, or to see what I am?" If you work hard, ask: "Am I working to avoid myself, or as a clean expression of responsibility?" Then try a small shift: do one short meditation without any goal - simply noticing awareness - and do one small piece of work with full attention and no self-image attached. This breaks the cycle of spiritual achievement and worldly avoidance. Over time, you begin to live practice as 𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ - reflective assimilation - rather than as a trophy hunt.

ð‘Œđ𑍇ð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌊ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘ŒŊð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍍 𑌏ð‘Œĩ𑌂 ð‘Œđ𑌰𑍍𑌷ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌃 āĨĪ
𑌅𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĶð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ ð‘Œđ𑍇 𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑍍ð‘ŒĻ𑍍 𑌏ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œđð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĨ 12-4āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
ð‘Œđ𑍇ð‘ŒŊ-𑌉𑌊ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘ŒŊ-ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌰ð‘Œđð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - from absence of "reject this / accept that"
𑌏ð‘Œĩ𑌂 - thus
ð‘Œđ𑌰𑍍𑌷-ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŊ𑍋𑌃 - of elation and dejection
𑌅𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - from absence
𑌅ð‘ŒĶ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - today; now
ð‘Œđ𑍇 - O!
𑌎𑍍𑌰ð‘Œđ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒĻ𑍍 - O Brahman; O wise one (address)
𑌏ð‘Œĩ𑌂 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - thus; in this very way
𑌅ð‘Œđð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - I
𑌆ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - established; abiding

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Because the inner habit of "reject this / accept that" has dropped, and because elation and dejection have faded, O Brahman, today I abide thus.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse names the mind's basic software: ð‘Œđ𑍇ð‘ŒŊ-𑌉𑌊ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘ŒŊ - "must reject" and "must obtain." That software can be useful for practical life, but it becomes bondage when it is driven by fear and incompleteness. Then every moment becomes a negotiation: "I must get rid of this feeling," "I must secure that result." From that negotiation come ð‘Œđ𑌰𑍍𑌷 and ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌷ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ: excitement when the desired arrives, and dejection when it doesn't. 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 says these swings have faded because the underlying compulsion has faded.

This does not remove discernment. It removes compulsive valuation. You can still choose what is wholesome, avoid what is harmful, and act responsibly. But you stop turning every choice into identity. In Advaita, this is possible because the witness is already whole. When wholeness is recognized, the mind's frantic sorting slows down. The result is a quieter emotional tone: not flatness, but stability.

Practice by noticing where you live inside ð‘Œđ𑍇ð‘ŒŊ-𑌉𑌊ð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍇ð‘ŒŊ. It might be an emotion you refuse to feel, a result you demand, or a person you try to control. When you catch the demand, pause and ask: "Is this discernment, or is this fear?" Discernment is calm and specific; fear is urgent and absolute. Then rest for two breaths as the witness and choose a clean action: speak truthfully, set a boundary, take one step, or simply allow a feeling to be felt. This trains the nervous system out of swing and into steadiness.

𑌆ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑌂 𑌧𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍀𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍𑌜ð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪ𑍍 āĨĪ
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊𑌂 ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ ð‘Œĩ𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑍈ð‘ŒĪ𑍈𑌰𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œđð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĨ 12-5āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌆ð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŪ-𑌅ð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘Œķ𑍍𑌰ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - being in an ashrama/role or not being in one
𑌧𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌂 - meditation
𑌚ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ-ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑍀𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ-ð‘Œĩ𑌰𑍍𑌜ð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - adopting the mind or rejecting it; taking and leaving (mental discipline)
ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊𑌂 - imagination; conceptual alternative
ð‘ŒŪð‘ŒŪ - my
ð‘Œĩ𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍ð‘ŒŊ - having seen; having examined
𑌏ð‘ŒĪ𑍈𑌃 - by these; with these
𑌏ð‘Œĩ𑌂 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - thus; in this very way
𑌅ð‘Œđð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - I
𑌆ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - established; abiding

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Seeing as imagination the alternatives of ashrama or no ashrama, meditation, and taking or rejecting mental discipline, I abide thus.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse is not dismissing practice; it is describing non-clinging toward practice. Many seekers turn practices into identity: "I am a renunciate," "I am a householder," "I am a meditator," "I am disciplined," "I am beyond discipline." These are ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊s - conceptual alternatives - and the ego can hide inside any of them. 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 says he has examined these alternatives and no longer treats them as ultimate. The Self is not improved by an external role, and it is not diminished by the absence of a role.

This is a liberating point for modern life, where people often get stuck in comparisons: "I should have a different lifestyle," "If only I lived like a monk, I'd be peaceful," or the opposite, "If only I had a more successful life, then I'd be free." The verse points to a deeper freedom: use roles and practices as tools, not as identities. Advaita keeps returning to the witness: whatever role you play, you are the awareness in which the role is known.

Practice by choosing one role-identity you lean on and loosening it gently. If you identify as "productive," practice one hour of being without proving; if you identify as "spiritual," practice one day of quiet sincerity without announcing it; if you identify as "undisciplined," practice one small discipline for seven days. The goal is not to pick the right identity; it is to see identities as ð‘Œĩð‘Œŋ𑌕ð‘Œē𑍍𑌊 and rest as the witness. Then keep one simple practice - meditation, prayer, or self-inquiry - as a support, but without turning it into a badge.

𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌠ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪ𑌜𑍍𑌞ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍍 ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨ𑍈ð‘Œĩ𑍋𑌊𑌰ð‘ŒŪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĨð‘Œū āĨĪ
𑌎𑍁𑌧𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌗ð‘Œŋð‘ŒĶ𑌂 ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œđð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĨ 12-6āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪ-𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌠ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - performance of actions; ritualized doing
𑌅𑌜𑍍𑌞ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - from ignorance
ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒĨð‘Œū 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - just as
𑌉𑌊𑌰ð‘ŒŪ𑌃 - cessation; stopping
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĨð‘Œū - so
𑌎𑍁𑌧𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - having understood
ð‘Œļð‘ŒŪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌕𑍍 - rightly; thoroughly
𑌇ð‘ŒĶð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - this
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - truth; principle
𑌏ð‘Œĩ𑌂 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - thus; in this very way
𑌅ð‘Œđð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - I
𑌆ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - established; abiding

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Seeing that compulsive action arises from ignorance and that it naturally ceases when ignorance is understood, and understanding this truth rightly, I abide thus.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This verse points to a subtle shift: action can become simpler when the doer-identity drops. 𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒŪ-𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌠ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ includes not only ritual action, but the whole pattern of "doing to become." 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 says that this pattern is rooted in 𑌅𑌜𑍍𑌞ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ - ignorance of what you are. When you think you are a limited person who must secure yourself through action, you keep acting in an anxious way. When the Self is recognized as already complete awareness, a portion of that anxious doing ceases by itself. That natural cessation is 𑌉𑌊𑌰ð‘ŒŪ.

This does not mean realized people stop all action. The body-mind will still function. But the quality of action changes: less compulsion, less self-justification, less need to prove. In Advaita terms, 𑌕𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ (doer-identity) and 𑌭𑍋𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩ (enjoyer/owner-identity) loosen. Then action can become more like a response to what is needed rather than a strategy to fix your existence.

Practice by observing where your action is driven by insecurity. Pick one daily area: work, helping, exercise, socializing. Ask: "Am I doing this to be okay, or because it is simply appropriate?" Then try one experiment: do one task with a relaxed body and without inner self-talk about your worth. If anxiety arises, pause and return to awareness for one breath, then continue. Also practice a small 𑌉𑌊𑌰ð‘ŒŪ: stop one unnecessary action today (one extra email check, one extra explanation, one extra scroll) and see that you remain okay. This trains the mind to trust the Self rather than the compulsion to do.

𑌅𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻð‘‹ð‘Œ―ð‘ŒŠð‘Œŋ 𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌰𑍂𑌊𑌂 𑌭𑌜ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘Œļ𑍌 āĨĪ
ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĶ𑍍𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻ𑌂 ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĶ𑍍 𑌏ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩð‘Œūð‘Œđð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 āĨĨ 12-𑍭āĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌅𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌂 - the unthinkable; that which cannot be grasped by thought
𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ𑌃 𑌅𑌊ð‘Œŋ - even when being thought about
𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū-𑌰𑍂𑌊ð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - takes the form of thought
𑌭𑌜ð‘ŒĪð‘Œŋ - becomes; takes on
𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍌 - that (unthinkable reality)
ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ𑌕𑍍ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘Œĩð‘Œū - having abandoned
ð‘ŒĪð‘ŒĪ𑍍-𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - contemplation of that (as a thought-object)
ð‘ŒĪð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒŪð‘Œūð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - therefore
𑌏ð‘Œĩ𑌂 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - thus; in this very way
𑌅ð‘Œđð‘ŒŪ𑍍 - I
𑌆ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘ŒĨð‘Œŋð‘ŒĪ𑌃 - established; abiding

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
Even the unthinkable, when it is thought about, becomes only a thought-form. Therefore, giving up that kind of contemplation, I abide thus.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This is a key instruction for avoiding a subtle spiritual mistake: turning the Self into a mental object. The Self is 𑌅𑌚ð‘Œŋ𑌂ð‘ŒĪ𑍍ð‘ŒŊ not because it is mysterious, but because it is the very light by which thoughts are known. When you try to "think the Self," you only produce a thought about the Self. That thought is known; therefore it cannot be the knower. 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 says he has abandoned that kind of contemplation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘ŒĻð‘Œū) - not contemplation as such, but objectifying contemplation.

This is why Advaita often emphasizes direct recognition over conceptualization. Concepts can point, but they cannot substitute for seeing. The verse is not anti-intellectual; it is pro-clarity. A mind that keeps spinning subtle concepts can still avoid the simple fact of being awareness. When the mind drops the urge to grasp the Self as an object, it becomes easier to rest as the witness. That resting is what 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 calls abiding.

Practice by noticing when you are using thought to avoid silence. If you read a verse and then immediately start constructing theories, pause. Ask: "What is aware of this theorizing?" Then stop for ten breaths and rest as that awareness. If the mind produces another thought, notice it and let it pass. After the ten breaths, return to the verse and see if it lands more simply. This builds a skill: you use thought as a pointer, then you drop thought and stand as what the pointer indicates. That is how study becomes liberation rather than another form of mental entertainment.

𑌏ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩ 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 ð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ ð‘Œļ 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ𑍋 𑌭ð‘Œĩ𑍇ð‘ŒĶð‘Œļ𑍌 āĨĪ
𑌏ð‘Œĩð‘ŒŪ𑍇ð‘Œĩ ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑍋 ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 ð‘Œļ 𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ𑍋 𑌭ð‘Œĩ𑍇ð‘ŒĶð‘Œļ𑍌 āĨĨ 12-ð‘ŪāĨĨ

Meaning (𑌊ð‘ŒĶð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
𑌏ð‘Œĩ𑌂 𑌏ð‘Œĩ - thus; in this very way
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪ𑌂 - done; accomplished
ð‘ŒŊ𑍇ð‘ŒĻ - by whom
ð‘Œļ𑌃 - that person
𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ𑌃 - fulfilled; accomplished; whose purpose is achieved
𑌭ð‘Œĩ𑍇ð‘ŒĪ𑍍 - would be
𑌅ð‘Œļ𑍌 - that one
ð‘Œļ𑍍ð‘Œĩ𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩ𑌃 - nature; natural state
ð‘ŒŊ𑌃 - who

Translation (𑌭ð‘Œūð‘Œĩð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ):
The one by whom this is done is fulfilled; and the one whose natural state is like this is fulfilled.

Commentary (𑌅ð‘ŒĻ𑍁ð‘Œļ𑌂𑌧ð‘Œūð‘ŒĻ):
This concluding verse gives two complementary ways to understand freedom. One way emphasizes "done": you can say, "I have practiced and arrived." That is helpful for the mind that needs a sense of path. The other way emphasizes nature: freedom is not manufactured; it is the natural state when false identification drops. 𑌜ð‘ŒĻ𑌕 honors both: effort has its place in removing confusion, yet what is discovered is not created by effort.

This is also why the chapter repeats "thus I abide" rather than "thus I achieved." The text keeps pointing to ease. When the mind stops objectifying the Self, stops chasing states, stops bargaining with dualities, and stops compulsive doing, what remains is simple awareness. That awareness is not special; it is ordinary and ever-present. The accomplishment (𑌕𑍃ð‘ŒĪð‘Œū𑌰𑍍ð‘ŒĨ) is simply no longer missing what has always been here.

Practice by keeping both truths together. If you need discipline, keep a small daily practice and be steady. But do not make practice into a new identity. Each day, also pause and ask: "What is already true right now, before I improve anything?" Rest as the witness for a few breaths. Then act from clarity. Over time, practice becomes light, and freedom becomes less of a distant goal and more of a present fact. That is what this conclusion is pointing to.




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