Thread by @AdiShloka

In the Śloka here,
#Aṣṭāvakra points out the subtle distinction between the two higher states in Meditation.

येन दृष्टं परं ब्रह्म सोऽहं ब्रह्मेति चिन्तयेत्।
किं चिन्तयति निश्चिन्तो द्वितीयं यो न पश्यति॥

"He, who sees the supreme Brāhmaṇ, Meditates upon ‘I am Brāhmaṇ.
(1/9)

He who has transcended all thoughts and when he sees ‘no second’,
What should he meditate Upon?"

At the earlier stage the student, as a result of his deep study & long reflection,
becomes intellectually convinced of the one Infinite immutable Reality which is the Substratum

for the illusory play of names & forms that constitute the Universe.
Here,
The student ‘sees the supreme Brahman’ meaning,
He intellectually conceives the Existence & Understands the nature of the supreme Reality.

At this stage the student should strive to Meditate on,

‘I am Brahman’ (aham brahmāsmi).
Through this Meditation & continuous assertion ‘I am Brahman’,
He achieves his total detachment from his equipments & discovers his Identity with the Infinite Self.

This stage is defined as ‘Samādhi with Thought’ (Savikalpa samādhi).

As a result of this Spiritual practice & long self-discipline,
The ego Ends,
Đ illusory world of Perceptions cease
& the seeker awakes to become the Rṣi of direct Spiritual experience.
He transcends his Intellect and its thoughts & experiences the one without a second.

Having thus reached this state of Consciousness,
Wherein he has discovered his perfect identity with the Brāhmaṇ,
Aṣṭāvakra asks very Pertinently:

‘Upon what should he Meditate?’

Until we Sleep,
We can Try to Sleep, But having Slept who is there to Try?

Having reached the state of Self, where is the seeker to Meditate? And try to reach What?

On reaching the goal the pilgrimage has ended.
On realising Đ Self, Meditation has culminated.

The Meditator has become the Meditated.

In this great Awakening, The Ego has ended along with its Dreams.
Đ Ego has become the one Self everywhere.

Describing such a Man of Perfection, who has reached his spiritual goal,

Ᾱcārya Āḍi Śaṅkara sings in his Vivekacūḍāmaṇi:

जीवन्नेव सदा मुक्तः कृतार्थो ब्रह्मवित्तमः।
उपाधिनाशाद्ब्रह्मैव सन् ब्रह्माप्येति निर्द्वयम्॥
‘He who giving up all considerations of the fitness or otherwise of objects of Meditation, lives as d absolute Ᾱtman.
He is indeed Śiva Himself, Đ best among d knowers of Brahman.’

ॐ🙏