Non Duality
by Vijay Kiran
Poem by Sri Adi Sankara, the essence of non-duality principle.
aAtmashtakam – Song of Soul by Adi Shankara
I am not the intellect, ego, mind . Neither am I hearing, taste,
smell, sight . Nor am I space, earth, light, air, field of consciousness.
I am the pure consciousness of bliss -
I am Shiva . Shiva am I.I am not prana, nor the five vital forces.
I am not the seven elements of the body,
or the five sheaths forming the body.
I am not the organ of speech, hand, foot,
the organ of procreation or excretion.
I am the pure consciousness of bliss -
I am Shiva, I am Shiva.I have nor attachment or aversion;
No greed or delusion, not envy or vain;
duty, acquisition, desire nor liberation do I aspire -
since I am the embodiment of knowledge and bliss -
I am Shiva, I am Shiva.I am neither virtue nor vice,
Pleasure or pain that is experienced, no, no;
A chant, a holy place, a scripture nor the sacricial re;
I am neither the enjoyment, enjoyable nor the enjoyer
I am the embodiment of knowledge and bliss -
I am Shiva, I am Shiva.There is no death or fear,
No one to distinguished by class or caste
No father, no mother, no birth at all;
No friend, no kith or kin, guru or shishya -
I am the embodiment of knowledge and bliss -
I am Shiva, I am Shiva.I am Changeless, formless, enveloping all,
Untouched by senses, I am omnipresent,
Unfathomable, I am beyond freedom -
I am the embodiment of knowledge and bliss -
I am Shiva, I am Shiva.
Strikingly similar poem by Baba Bulleh Shah, a famous Sufi poet.
Bulleh! to me, I am not known by Baba Bulleh Shah
Not a believer inside the mosque, am I
Nor a pagan disciple of false rites
Not the pure amongst the impure
Neither Moses, nor the PharohBulleh! to me, I am not known
Not in the holy Vedas, am I
Nor in opium, neither in wine
Not in the drunkard`s intoxicated craze
Niether awake, nor in a sleeping dazeBulleh! to me, I am not known
In happiness nor in sorrow, am I
Neither clean, nor a filthy mire
Not from water, nor from earth
Neither fire, nor from air, is my birthBulleh! to me, I am not known
Not an Arab, nor Lahori
Neither Hindi, nor Nagauri
Hindu, Turk, nor Peshawari
Nor do I live in NadaunBulleh! to me, I am not known
Secrets of religion, I have not known
From Adam and Eve, I am not born
I am not the name I assume
Not in stillness, nor on the moveBulleh! to me, I am not known
I am the first, I am the last
None other, have I ever known
I am the wisest of them all
Bulleh! do I stand alone?Bulleh! to me, I am not known
