Ribhu Gita

* Ribhu Gita *

Ribhu said:

I shall tell you about the definition of the ‪#‎Self‬, which is not available in all the triad of time—past, present, and future—

11. Ever the most secret of the secret, by summarizing what has been expounded by ‪#‎Shiva‬. There is nothing that can be talked of as non-Self, neither the mind as the non-Self, not the world as the non-Self. Be of the certitude that there is nothing that is non-Self.

12. By the absence of all sankalpas, by the elimination of all forms, by the conviction of there being only Brahman, be of the certitude that there is not anything that is non-Self.

13. In the absence of mind, there is no thinking; in the absence of the body, there is no aging. With the conviction of there being only Brahman, be of the certitude that there is no non-Self.

14. Because of the absence of feet, there is no walking; because of the absence of hands, there is no work. There being only Brahman alone, be of the certitude that there is no non-Self.

15. Because of the absence of Brahma, the Creator, there is no world; in the absence thereof, there is no Hari, the sustainer. There being only Brahman alone, be of the certitude that there is no non-Self.

16. In the absence of aging, there is no death; nor is there the world or the Vedas or the gods. There being only Brahman alone, be of the certitude that there is no non-Self.

17. There is no dharma (righteous conduct), no purity, no concept of truth, no fear. There being only Brahman alone, be of the certitude that there is no non-Self.

18. Because there is no decay, there is no movement. Because there is no decay, there is no insentience. There being only Brahman alone, be of the certitude that there is no non-Self.

19. The ‪#‎Guru‬, indeed, does not exist; truly, there is no disciple. There being only Brahman alone, be of the certitude that there is no non-Self.

20. There being nothing that is the first, there is nothing that is the second; there being no second, there is nothing as the first. If there is the concept of truth, something as nontruth will also rise.

21. If there be any concept of nontruth, a concept of truth will also arise with it. If there is inauspiciousness, know that there is a notion of auspiciousness. Likewise, if there is auspiciousness, there will be inauspiciousness.

22. If you think of fearlessness, fear is postulated; fear is concomitant with fearlessness. There being only Brahman alone, be of the certitude that there is non non-Self.

23. If there is bondage, there is liberation; in the absence of bondage, there is no liberation. If there is death, there is birth; in the absence of birth, there is no death either.

24. If there is “you,” there is “I”; if there is no “you,” there is no “I.” If there is “this,” there is “that”; in the absence of “that,” there is no “this” either.

25. “If it is there” implies something not being there; “it is not there” implies something being there. If there is an effect, there is some cause; in the absence of effect, there is no cause.

26. If there is duality, there is a concept of nonduality; in the absence of duality, there is no concept of nonduality either. If there is something to be seen, a seer is also there; in the absence of anything to see, there is no seer at all either.

27. If there is an interior, there surely is an exterior; if there be no interior, there is also no exterior. If there be a concept of completeness, it implies something of incompleteness.

28. If there is a little that can be thought of, it became all in no time; if there is not little—nothing whatsoever of anything at anytime—nothing arises.

29. Therefore, all this does not exist in the least at any time: neither you nor I, neither this nor that. There being only Brahman alone, be of the certitude that there is no non-Self.

30. There is nothing by way of example in this world, nor is there anything for which an example is to be given. There being only Brahman alone, be of the certitude that there is no non-Self.

31. There is no mind to think, “I am the Supreme Brahman,” “This universe is only Brahman alone,” “You are also only Brahman.”

32. I am ‪#‎Consciousness‬, and there is no non-Self. Be of this certitude. Thus, in brief, the definition of the Self has been told to you.

33. By hearing this once, one becomes Brahman oneself.

-Ribhu Gita Chapter One