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Aptavani-8
not have the same knowledge as you. All these people have a different kind of knowledge. They all say that the body is temporary (vinashi), and you are saying that the body is not temporary (vinashi). If cups and saucers were to break in your home, would you not feel anything?
Questioner: I am asking you what temporary means, from a scientific point of view.
Dadashri: No. Here, you do not need a scientific viewpoint. You need the viewpoint from worldly interaction (vyavahar). Here in the interaction of the world (vyavahar), you need the viewpoint of worldly interaction (vyavahar).
I can even tell you what it is from the scientific point of view. The scientific viewpoint says that, 'In this world, there is no decrease in a single subatomic particle (parmanu).' No matter how much destruction it undergoes, there is no decrease in a single subatomic particle, and in the same way there is no increase in a single subatomic particle. But if cups and saucers break in people's houses, does it not cause a commotion? Is there not a fuss when clothes get burnt? If your house were burned down, would you not be distraught? That is why it is called temporary and destructible (vinashi). The Atma does not get burnt in it.
Questioner: Does temporary mean, whether it is only a change of state?
Dadashri: Temporary (vinashi) means the circumstances (avastha) are destroyed. The elemental thing (vastu) itself is not destructible (vinashi); the element (tattva) is not destructible (vinashi). But it is the circumstances that arise, which get destroyed. Even the people in the world are caught up in the circumstances, and that is why we have to say that they are temporary (vinashi).
If these people go to a doctor and say, 'Doctor, I have a fever.' and the doctor says, 'It is permanent (avinashi).' then