Disengage Every Concept The Ribhu Gita, like others in that genre, is ostensibly an exemplification of an enlightened spiritual teacher (Ribhu) transmitting the nondual precepts to a seasoned aspirant (Nidhaga Rishi) in nearly two thousand verses, or brief paragraphs.* Presumably, a rishi (“seer”) would already have a basic grasp of the simple principles of advaita (nonduality), but not yet have intuited the essential connections which underlie complete Self-realization. The sage Ramana Maharshi sometimes quoted the Ribhu Gita, and encouraged adepts to read it. Selections highlighting the key points (about a hundred verses) were ably translated into modern English, around thirty years ago, by Prof. N.R. Krishnamoorthi Aiyer for publication by Ramana’s ashram in south India. Such ancient writings are usually somewhat random and repetitive, so they’re best understood by following a progressive ordering of the content, as I’ve done in the commentary below. For brevity, the quotations I’ve selected have been mostly paraphrased. And all words in parentheses are for clarification. The Ribhu Gita asserts that Self-realization (a.k.a. enlightenment) “is possible only for those intent on knowing the Self, and not for those who are indifferent.”
* Ed. note: see also Robert’s commentary on the Ashtavakra Gita in
Always—Only—One.
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