The Ashtavakra Gita teaches that the ultimate reality is the Self, which is pure consciousness, untainted by thoughts, emotions, and actions. The text emphasizes that the individual ego is an illusion and that the sense of separation and duality is the root cause of suffering. The sage Ashtavakra guides King Janaka to realize the true nature of the Self through a series of questions and answers.
Swami Chinmayananda (1916–1993) was a former journalist and freedom fighter who studied under Swami Sivananda and was trained by Swami Tapovanam in the Himalayas. He revolutionized the teaching of Vedanta in India and the West. ashtavakra gita chinmayananda pdf