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Aptavani-8
293
nature (swabhav) of the Self! Even if the tendencies have gone outside, they immediately return. Whereas here, if you wanted to call the tendencies back, they will not come, and so many of them will be laying around outside their home! Experience Is Different; Self-Realization is
Different
Questioner: Atma-anubhav and Atma-sakshatkar, what is the difference between the two words?
Dadashri: Sakshatkar (direct realization of the Self) is a different thing and anubhav (experience) comes, when you progress further.
Questioner: So what do people consider as the direct experience of the Atma (sakshatkar)?
Dadashri: This Knowledge (Gnan) that 'we' give you, is considered the direct experience of the Atma (sakshatkar).
Questioner: So is direct realization of the Atma (sakshatkar) lower than conviction (pratiti)?
Dadashri: When the direct realization of the Self (sakshatkar) happens to a person, the conviction (pratiti) sets in. Otherwise, his conviction (pratiti) of, 'I am Chandubhai' will not go away! Only the Experienced Gives One the
Experience of the Atma Questioner: At which stage of spiritual development (gunthanu: there are fourteen stages of spiritual development, a soul gradually passes through, before it attains final liberation) does one experience the Atma (Self)?
Dadashri: The experience (anubhav) of the Atma, can even happen at the fourth stage (gunthanu), it can happen at the fifth, or the sixth.
