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Rays of Dharma
of the eyes, while the worldly situation comes to an end with the closing of the eyes." The king knew that such knowledge is not gained from books; it arises when one's internal treasure gets manifest. As such, he adopted Ashtävakra as his Guru.
The description of a skinner presented by Ashtävakra could be applicable to us, because we also are used to look at the external form and ignore what is lying within everyone. For instance, a tiny ant also wants to gain happiness and averts unhappiness; it loves sweets, avoids heat and so on. On seeing it does it occur to us that in its body there is a soul like ours? Does the sense of equality arise within us? Is it not necessary for us to look at the soul lying in each body, instead of looking at the external shape?
As said by Ashtävakra we need to keep in mind that our life is a dream that is going to disappear one day. It is therefore useless to develop too much attachment for any worldly phenomenon. Neither should we cry at the time of misery, nor be euphoric at the time of happiness; we need to hold equanimity in all circumstances.
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