Suffering, according to the Ashtavakra Gita, sprouts from the tight grip of identification with the body and mind. Imagine scrolling through an endless social feed that constantly reminds of who “I” am—age, job title, relationships—and how things “should” be. That’s the very script fueling pain. Ashtavakra turns the tables by insisting that the true Self isn’t tangled up in that narrative.

The text strips away every layer of self-made burden. Thoughts, emotions, even physical sensations get spotlighted as transient phenomena—like clouds drifting across an open sky. Clinging to them is likened to mistaking the reflection on water for the moon itself. The result? A perpetual game of whack-a-mole with suffering.

Instead, absolute surrender to pure awareness is the ticket out. No fancy rituals, no multi-step program—only steadfast recognition that consciousness is already free, untouched by bodily tweaks or mental rewrites. Modern neuroscience even nods in agreement: research on mindfulness and meta-awareness shows that stepping back from relentless self-talk can ease anxiety and depression.

A few guiding pointers lifted from the dialogue:
• Observe without attachment. Let thoughts play out but don’t buy a ticket to their drama.
• Rest as unborn awareness. Picture shutting down a glitchy app—once it’s off, there’s still the smooth-running operating system beneath.
• Embrace spontaneity. Liberation isn’t a future destination; it’s the here-and-now quality of simply “being.”

Ashtavakra’s voice feels eerily fresh alongside today’s mental health movement. Just as wellness apps encourage sitting quietly for a few minutes, these ancient verses invite diving straight into the source of being. Peel back the layers, and what remains can’t suffer—it’s already whole.