Aptavani 02

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Mahavideh Foundation

Page 48

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not Self-realized to establish and revere an external God (idol, satdev), an external true guru, and follow a true religion. Until you meet the Gnani Purush, everything you do will be worldly in nature giving only worldly benefits).
Questioner : What does the relative satdev mean? Is it the idol of God?
Dadashri : Yes. When you revere an idol, you are projecting your devotional intent on that idol. This is in the relative realm. You, your devotion and the object of your devotion, all three are in the relative realm.
The Self within is the real God (satdev). The speech of the Gnani Purush is the true religion (satdharma). The Gnani Purush himself is really the true guru (sadguru). These three are real and eternal; the others are relative and worldly in nature. What are the benefits of worldly devotion? You will bind merit karma (punya) and will gradually progress spiritually but only the real elements; the alaukik (beyond the world) satdev, sadguru and satdharma will liberate you. Otherwise, why would you wander aimlessly, having met the real guru? What is the reality of this world? The reality is that people have met their satdev, but that satdev is not real but a relative satdev. Relative means it is Lord Mahavir but in the form of an idol. Whereas the real God (satdev) is the one who lives within; the real God is the pure Soul within. The pure Soul within is truly Lord Mahavir
Although some of you have attained realization of the pure Soul, you have not fully experienced that state yet, and until then, the Gnani Purush verily is your pure Soul.
Real religion cannot be found in the scriptures. Real religion is that which comes forth as the speech of the Gnani Purush. Only when you attain the real religion, real God and the real guru can you attain liberation. However, until you find the real, keep the projected real as your anchor. If you cannot find real pearls, at least wear cultured ones!
When the vitarag Lords spoke about real God, real guru and real religion, the acharyas (principal preceptors) of the Jain faith took that to mean that Lord Mahavir is the real God and following the scriptures is the real religion. But they did not understand that an idol of the Lord is a projected image of Lord Mahavir, it is not the real Mahavir. And dear acharya maharaj. you too are a projection of the Self (relative self); so the God, the guru and the religion are all projected (relative). Once the spoken words are printed in books, they become a projected religion. Only speech heard directly from the Gnani's mouth is real religion. Gnani Purush is the real Guru. What is the real Guru like? The real Guru gives realization of the Self to others. The Self then is the real God. And real religion is only the words that the Gnani utters. Only that which grants you liberation is real religion, all others are relative religions. What does the real religion do? It constantly keeps the real and the relative separate. In the relative religion there is good and bad; they tell you to do things a certain way. They tell you to perform chants and rituals of penance. If you ask them why they are telling you to perform rituals of idols and not of the Self, they will tell you that rituals of the Self can only be done after attaining the Self, but until then, this is the only way.
If you ask them is this idol the real God? They will say yes. For heaven's sakes! The idols are not real; they are merely projected as real. Everyone erroneously believes that the projected gods (idols) are real Gods. Every talk and information is projected and relative.
Your work is done once you attain the real God, the real religion and the real guru. Even if you were to meet with the real guru for just one hour, your work will be done. Your lifetime's work will be accomplished if you meet these three for just one hour