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Advaita for the 21st Century

The Song of Ribhu
Translated from the original Tamil by Dr. H. Ramamoorthy and Nome

flower picture
Book Cover - Song of Ribhu


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Ramana Maharshi often recommended the Ribhu Gita to seekers who visited him. This was read aloud many evenings at Ramanasramam

Chapter 10 - All is of the Nature of the Self

1.
Hear this exposition about the greatness of the Self.
That is peaceful and the rare quintessence.
The Self, which is not insentient, which is One,
And which is Existence-Consciousness-Bliss, is all pervasive.
That Self is itself. There is nothing apart from the Self.
The pot and the cloth and others
That are seen as manifold
All are of the nature of the Self.

2.
The Self is of the nature the pervades all the world.
The Self is of the nature that transcends the world.
The Self is of the nature of all.
The Self is of the nature beyond all.
The Self is of the nature that is peaceful.
The Self is of the nature of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss.
There is nothing apart from the peerless Self.
All, ever, is of the nature of Self.

3.
The Self is of the nature dear to all.
The Self is of the nature of the imperishable.
The Self is of the abode of bliss.
The Self is greater than the greatest.
The Self is of the nature devoid of the six changes (birth, existence, growth, disease, decay, and death).
The Self is of the nature of the pure and unsullied.
There is nothing apart from the Self, the mass of Bliss.
All objects are of the nature of the Self.

4.
The Self is of the nature that has no differences of the individual (jiva) and the Supreme.
The Self is of the nature devoid of the mind and such.
The Self is of the nature that is devoid of the non-self.
The Self is of the nature that is the highest nonduality.
The Self is of the nature or pure Consciousness.
The Self is of a homogeneous nature.
There is nothing apart for the Self, the Sacred.
All that is seen is of the nature of the Self.

5.
The Self is of the nature of nonduality and duality.
The Self is of the nature of that cannot be described in this manner.
The Self is also of the nature of release and bondage.
The Self is of the nature of that has no words like “liberation.”
The Self is of the nature devoid of all these.
The Self is of the nature of the one undivided Fullness.
Truly there is nothing apart from the Self.
At all times, all things are of the nature of the Self.

6.
The Self is of the nature of without a trace of sankalpa.
The Self is of the nature of permanent Bliss.
The Self is of the nature without bondage.
The Self is of the nature of the Supreme God.
The Self is of the nature that has no obscuring blemish.
The Self is of the nature that is changeless, partless.
There is nothing apart from the exalted Self.
The enjoyable object and the enjoyment are of the nature of the Self.

7.
The Self is of the nature of the ancient and imperishable.
The Self is of the nature of a mass of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss.
The Self is of the nature that cannot be comprehended.
The Self is of the nature that is deathless.
The Self is of the nature of all that is differenceless.
The Self is of the nature that transcends proof.
There is nothing apart from the originless Self.
All that is seen as being apart is of the nature of the Self.

8.
The Self is clearly of the nature of the fourth state.
The Self is of the nature that scorches duality.
The Self is of the nature of the Supreme Brahman.
The Self is of the nature of the direct Knowledge.
The Self is of the nature without a trace of unreality.
The Self is of the nature devoid of anything apart.
There is nothing apart from the Self that is the Brahman.
Whatever is seen as apart is, also, of the nature of the Self.

9.
The Self is of the nature that has none of the four means of achievement.
The Self is of the nature without “knowledge, the end to be achieved.”
The Self is of the nature without ignorance, the impediment.
The Self is of the nature without the impact of any of these.
Man of great tapas (intense spiritual practice, austerity), the Self is of the nature that is extremely pure.
The Self is of the nature that has no pride or sense of dishonor.
There is nothing apart from the Self, the mass of Knowledge.
All that is experienced by the senses is of the nature of the Self.

10.
The Self is of the nature without the sheath of food.
The Self is of the nature without the sheath of prana (vital airs).
The Self is of the nature without the mental sheath.
The Self is of the nature without the sheath of intellectual knowledge.
The Self is of the nature without the sheath of bless.
The Self is of the nature without the pentad of sheaths.
There is nothing apart from the Self that is indivisible.
All that is seen as manifold is the Self.

11.
The self is devoid of the three bodies such as gross and others (gross, subtle, and causal).
The Self is of the nature devoid of the states experienced by duality.
The self is devoid of the primal ignorance.
The self is devoid of the knowledge that liberates.
The self is devoid of the four great aphorisms (mahavakya-s).
The self is devoid of the six states of samadhi (state of absorption).
There is nothing beside the Self devoid of the world.
The knower and the knowledge are all of the nature of the Self.

12.
The self is devoid of the syllable Om (Aum) and others.
The Self shines as of the nature of imperishable Consciousness.
The self is devoid of ego and others.
The Self is established as the fullness of Bliss.
The Self is the only constant existence.
The Self is established as the immovable.
All that is seen as manifold is of the nature of the Self.

13.
The Self exists in all the triad of time.
The Self is without beginning, middle, and end.
The Self has no seeming uncertainties.
The Self is only pure Consciousness.
The Self has none of the established triads.
The Self is of a single nature devoid of anything else.
There is nothing apart from the Self, worthy one!
All, always, is of the nature of the self.

14.
The Self is without duality and nonduality.
The Self transcends the fourth state.
The Self exists as the blemishless self-illumined.
The Self is to be looked upon as our real, natural state.
The Self is without “this,” “that,” or anything else.
The Self is one and perfectly full.
There is nothing apart from the Self.
Whatever is seen as discrete is of the nature of the Self.

15.
The Self is without the vital airs of prana and apana (the one that is life-giving and the one that moves downward).
The Self is the Supreme Space of Consciousness.
The Self is beyond measure of mind and speech.
The Self is a great mass of Bliss.
The Self is all things without exception.
There is nothing apart from Self, the mass of Knowledge.
The world, life, and the Supreme are all of the nature of the Self.

16.
Nidagha! As there is nothing apart from your Self,
Consider you Self as yourself.
Experience your Self, and ever enjoy
The Bliss of your Self in yourself.
Become peaceful and immersed
In an ocean of happiness,
Without any of the least sorrow.
Remain, my son, as a mass of Bliss.

17.
To realize the Self of undivided Bliss,
One should first consistently engage in sravana (hearing, listening or reading).
To realize the Self of undivided Bliss,
One should daily engage in manana (reflection).
To realize the Self of undivided Bliss,
One should always have steadfast, profound, continuous meditation (nididhyasana).
The realize the Self of undivided Bliss,
One should always practice the Knowledge that I am Brahman.

18.
The Self of undivided Bliss should be spoken of.
The Self of undivided Bliss should be understood.
The Self of undivided Bliss should be thought of.
The Self of undivided Bliss should be worshipped.
The Self of undivided Bliss should be revelled in.
The Self of undivided Bliss should be enjoyed.
One should merge in the Self of undivided Bliss.
One should become the Self of undivided Bliss.

19.
As the Self of undivided Bliss
Is beloved of all,
The Self of undivided Bliss
Should be worshipped by the practice of Knowledge
By directly realizing the “I”
As the Self of undivided Bliss in every way.
The blemishless Bliss of Liberation,
Of being the Self of Undivided Bliss, should be attained.

20.
Hence, obtaining the Knowledge of the Self of undivided Bliss –
That the Self of the nature of undivided Bliss is “I,”
Ant that the “I” is all –
And rid the sorrows of repeated births,
Be established fully as the Self,
A mass of Knowledge-Bliss.
Great sage! The Self is all,
And there is not an atom apart from the Self.

21
The Self, indeed, is the triad of qualities.
The Self, indeed, is all the activities of these.
The Self, indeed, is the ego and the intellect.
The Self, indeed, is the mind and thought.
The Self, indeed, is life and senses.
The Self, indeed, is the body and sense organs.
The Self, indeed, is everything else that is.
There is not an atom apart from the Self.

22
The Self, indeed, is earth and small.
The Self, indeed, is water and taste.
The Self, indeed, is light and form.
The Self, indeed, is air and touch.
The Self, indeed, is space and sound.
The Self, indeed, is all the elements.
The Self, indeed, is all the worlds.
There is nothing that is apart from the Self.

23.
The Self, indeed, is the visvan (individual experiencers of the gross objects in the waking state in their totality) and also the waking state.
The Self, indeed, is the taijasa (individual cognizer of the subtle in the dream state) and also the dream state.
The Self, indeed, is the prajna (individual experiencer of the blissful Consciousness in the deep sleep state) and the deep sleep state.
The Self, indeed, is the turiyan, the experiencer of the fourth state and also the turiya, the fourth state.
The Self, indeed, is all from the virat (cosmic form of the Self functioning through the aggregate of all bodies in the waking state) to samasti (the collective or integrated state).
The Self, indeed, is all from the visvan (individual experiencers of the gross objects in the waking state in their totality) to the vyasti (the discrete, the separate).
The Self, indeed, is all that is sentient.
There is not an atom apart from the Self.

24
The Self, indeed, is the mantra-s (incantation, sacred formulas) and the tantra-s (rituals).
The Self, indeed, is the japa-s (repetitious, mutters prayers) and taps (intense practice, austerities).
The Self, indeed, is all of the endless variety of activities.
The Self, indeed, is all of the happiness of the world.
The Self, indeed, is all that is sentient.
The Self, indeed, is the cause and the effect.
There is not an atom apart from the Self.

25
The Self, indeed, is the mantra-s and the tantra-s.
The Self, indeed, is the japa-s and tapas.
The Self, indeed, is all the endless variety of activity.
The Self, indeed, is all the happiness and sorrow.
The Self, indeed, is all the people of the world.
The Self, indeed, is all that is sentient.
The Self, indeed, is the cause and effect.
There is not an atom apart from the Self.

26
All the beings, indeed, are of the nature of the Self.
All the worlds, indeed, are of the nature of the Self.
All accomplishments, indeed, are of the nature of the Self.
All the Veda-s, indeed, are of the nature of the Self.
All desired fruits of action, indeed, are of the nature of the Self.
All differences, indeed, are of the nature of the Self.
All that is divided is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.

27
The bodies are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All the beings are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All experience is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All objects of experiences are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All delusions are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All realization is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All yoga is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All objects of yoga are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.

28
All longings are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All activity is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All understanding is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All good fortune is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All that goes away is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All that remains is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All that gets transformed is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All that is sentient is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.

29
All people are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
The husband and wire are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
The guru and disciple are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All expression of ideas is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All knowledge acquired is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All holy waters are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All sacred shrines are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All the celestials are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.

30
All directions are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All countries are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
“I” and "the other” are, indeed, all of the nature of the Self.
All egoity is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
Mind and such are, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All anger is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All that arises in the memory is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.
All that happens is, indeed, of the nature of the Self.

31
Charity and other acts that are done are all of the nature of the Self.
Being courageous is of the nature of the Self.
All that is seen in duality is of the nature of the Self.
All harassing fear is of the nature of the Self.
All that is seen as unity is of the nature of the Self.
All reassuring security is of the nature of the Self.
All thoughts of differentiation are of the nature of the Self.
All differenceless thoughts are of the nature of the Self.

32
All illusions of differentiation are of the nature of the Self.
All Truth of non-difference is of the nature of the Self.
All that is seen clearly is of the nature of the Self.
All that is seen as mysterious is of the nature of the Self.
All that is seen as Knowledge is of the nature of the Self.
All that is seen as pure is of the nature of the Self.
The knower and the knowledge is of the nature of the Self.
The world, the individuals (jiva-s), and the Supreme—all—are of the nature of the Self.

33
The Self is a mass of perfectly full Existence.
The Self is a mass of sorrowless Bliss.
The Self is a mass of undiminishing Knowledge.
The Self is one changeless, undivided Essence.
The Self is here, the Self is there, and the Self is everywhere.
The Self is one complete fullness.
There is nothing apart from the Self.
All that is seen as duality is the perfectly full Self.

34.
Apart from the all-pervasive, perfectly full Self,
There is no world or individual (jiva) or such.
The world, the individual, and the Supreme
Are entirely of the nature of the Supreme Self,
Which is higher than the highest.
There is not a trace of doubt in this firm exposition. It is the Truth.
Whoever has steadfastly listened to and understood this
Even once will become Brahman.

35
Supreme Siva, the embodiment of Grace,
The consort of Uma, established as the Infinite Power with the maya (illusion) in his power,
Is the cause of the wondrous effect
That is the universe, inclusive of this world and others.
When inquired into, all this universe, which is the effect,
Is only a form of the cause, which is Supreme Siva.
Thus did the rare sage Ribhu discourse upon the greatness of the undivided Self
To the great sage Nidagha.

36
It is the perfectly full form of our Lord in the state of joyous dance that proclaims:
The beings who are in a divided state, the Lord who confers desired good fortune,
[And] the wondrous far-flung universe in all its variety,
Are all of the nature of the perfectly full Self and nothing else at all.

The Song of Ribhu is published by The Society of Abidance in Truth, Santa Cruz, CA, who own the copyright.

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