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the Pure Self. But the Gnani has the splendor in one eye and coolness in the other.
3. The Gnani has the depth of serenity of the ocean. He accepts and absorbs anything offered to him, regardless of its quality and contents and blesses the giver.
For the aspirant of the Absolute Truth, a description of the Gnani can be invaluable in his cognition of Him. How are we to recognize the Gnani? What attributes of his would captivate us in spirit?
The first and foremost identifying mark of a Gnani is his speech: It is Absolute and free from all attachment. There exists no other mode or measure in our age. In the days gone by, there were people so highly developed in their spirituality, that by just a mere look into the eyes of the Gnani, they could recognize his vitragta - his state void of any attachment towards worldly thing, including his physical body. Not even for a splitsecond is the Gnani bereft of vitragta.
The Gnani should be recognized through his outstanding qualities. But how can an ordinary individual understand such qualities? There are 1008 qualities of the Gnani, of which four are exclusive in the Gnani.
1. The Gnani has the dazzling majesty of the Sun-God. He is the symbol of the infinite luster and strength of the Pure Self. This strength is visible in his eyes. Only on experience does one feel the Divine energy behind it.
2. The Gnani has 'the coolness' of the Moon in his unsurpassing love and compassion. Everyone in his presence feels the bracing tranquility of this coolness. It is so soothing that one would not wish to be away from the Gnani even for a moment. The power of His coolness is enough to 'melt the radiant heat of the sun - a person may come to Him, tormented with rage and anger but with a mere glance into His eyes - the splendor of serenity within will sooth and calm him.
Radiant splendor and soothing coolness of compassion - these two virtues exist simultaneously in the Gnani alone. Some have the splendor of strength without the cool' of compassion and some have the cool' without the 'splendor of
4. His stillness and steadfastness is comparable to the mountain of Meru. No external circumstances or events dare shake his inner poise or steadfastness. His steadfastness must not be mistaken for psychic or physical fortitude or stubbornness. Many will hold their palm over a burning candle without flinching - that is not steadfastness; it is stubbornness or obstinacy- the expression of ego. But the Gnani is completely free from ego. He is natural and spontaneous in his reflexes or routine activities. Steadfastness has nothing to do with physical fortitude or rigidity. The Gnani would not put his hand where there is a possibility of getting burnt and if by chance he does, he would immediately retract it. His physical being is quite normal and natural but his omniscient inner poise is unparallel. No events or circumstances would upset or affect even a single atom of His inner harmony; that is real steadfastness. Steadfastness is where the tranquility within is never perturbed or never is there a hint of inner turmoil. The physical pain is a natural property of the body and has nothing to do with the equanimity or steadfastness of the inner Self.
An abode of infinite compassion, the Gnani does not have a grain of pity. Pity is an egocentric virtue - it is a virtue that exists in duality with its corresponding counterpart. Presence of pity on one hand is balanced by cruelty on the other hand. Only when it manifests, does one see the reality of this duality. But the Gnani is above all duality. In the Gnani's eyes flows an endless stream of the elixir of love. Forever within Him remains the spirit of comforting and saving, and liberating
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