A father has got his sons and others to free him from his
debts, but he has got none but himself to remove his bondage.
The trouble such as that caused by a load on the head can be
removed by others, but none but one's own self can put a stop to the pain which
is caused by hunger and the like.
The patient who takes diet and medicine is alone seen to recover
completely,—not through work done by others.
The true nature of things is to be known personally through the
eye of clear illumination, and not through a sage: what the moon exactly is, is
to be known with one's own eyes; can others make him know it?
Who but one's own self can get rid of the bondage caused by the
fetters of ignorance, desire, action and the like, aye, even in a hundred crore
of cycles?
Neither by Yoga, nor by Sankhya, nor by work, nor by learning,
but by the realization of one's identity with Brahman is liberation possible, and
by no other means.
Vivekachudamani (51 to 56) of Adi Shankaracharya
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