Ashtavakra Samhita Chapter 1, verses 8-13 | In Quest of Truth - Q&A with Babaji, No.193

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Baba answers questions and comments on chapter 1 verses 8 thru 13 of the Ashtravakra Gita, followed by general questions on spirituality, ego, meditation, Self Realization and Supreme Peace.

0:00 Intro
0:06 Agastya introduces the Ashtavakra Gita.
1:34 Ego falsely imagines it is the doer.
5:20 Mind is infinite, it is your Self. Faith is necessary. Meditate to focus on the Self, your attention is preoccupied with imaginations.
7:56  When your consciousness is not into any type of imagination, know that as the truth of existence.
10:41 Mind gives only what it imagines, it can never give the Truth.
14:09 Time and space are imaginations; meditation is to stop imagining. Just watch and thoughts will disappear.
16:13 Due to imagination only, a false thing appears to be true.
17:17 Baba recommendation, the need for meditation.
18:08 Misunderstanding what the Self is, what the mind is.
20:54 Baba explains ego in detail.
23:25 What is true spirituality. The need for direct experience of the Self. Importance of having the right teacher.
26:33 Siddhis, celestial worlds, and super powers cannot give Self Realization. To know the Self is the greatest miracle, with it comes supreme peace. 
31:24 Meditate to quiet the mind, overcome the ego, and attain liberation. Story of Astravakra commanding King Janaka to "Stop" mentally.
36:04 In addition to meditation, the practice of acceptance (karma yoga) can contribute to Self-Realization. Baba explains how mental attitude aids in spiritual growth.
40:48 Purpose can be more important than the act of doing.
43:37 How can a person be devoted to the path, perform karma yoga, and serve selflessly, without the quality of love? Devotion, service and acceptance.
47:05 The importance of learning from the knowers of Truth. True peace is within you only.  Purushartha - individual effort is needed.
51:30 How can I wake up every morning inspired to live a spiritual life?
53:08 Space doesn't need anything for its existence, it is holding the entire universe.
55:38 How do we turn our attention from the world to our Self?
57:41 While keenly observing in meditation, if there are no thoughts can we know that as the Self?
58:31 Seeing the Self but again slipping back into thinking.
59:06 Why is our mind is working against us, rather than for us?
1:00:36 Does food play an important role in controlling the mind?
1:01:47 How to sustain thought free focus during meditation.
1:04:04 Celestial appearances are a distraction to meditation and a much higher reality.
1:05:59 Advice to someone who meditates a lot and does not need much sleep.
1:07:00 Is not reacting mentally or physically to external stimulation the same as withdrawing the senses, and quieting the mind?
1:07:57 When focused between the eyebrows, how do you get into samadhi? How to transcend body consciousness?
1:09:19 By theory alone you cannot know with certainty what is positive or negative behavior. Meditate to purify the mind and negativity will disappear.
1:11:28 Does Absolute Consciousness have the  power to think of and manifest beautiful or ugly things?
1:14:43 Is consciousness or mind evolving?

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