Aptavani 05

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Mahavideh Foundation

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bad person will overtake the straightforward person in spiritual development. The straightforward person will develop slowly. He does not meet any obstacles. 'Invention occurs when one is lost and does not find a way out.
The rule of nature is that eighty percent of those who go to moksha go to hell first. If one has not been to hell he will not be allowed to go to moksha. One has to experience suffering. 'Invention' stops if one has a comfortable life and he gets food and drink and is respected wherever he goes.
Questioner: Many feel that they are on the path of dharma and so they do not need to know anything else. What is that?
Questioner: What if they want to attain the knowledge of the Self?
Dadashri: They will gradually come across such a circumstance, but then something else may get into their heart for which they will suffer. Then the 'invention will start again. Why did this 'invention' start for Me? It started because I took a lot of beating. I have climbed out of such deep ravines; I have climbed over such mountaintops, life after life. I do not want any worldly thing at all. You too have climbed high in this world. Others too have climbed high but they do not have the ability to remain as the Knower-Seer; they do not have the ability of closely seeing' (nirikshan) the self. They are all engrossed in eating and drinking, in physical and mental fun. That is why they forget that other spiritual experience. Our' nirikshan is of many lifetimes!
So where do all the energies of the mind, body and speech go? They continue to get used up in the gross (sthool, that which is interacting in worldly things). They get used up in things a laborer can do. Now, what will ‘My' value be if 'my' energies were to get used up in things like gardening? Just imagine how much more work can be accomplished in an hour? When energy is used in the gross, then 'invention in the subtle stops. When one becomes altruistic and serves others, his interest will continue to develop in that direction. Wherever he goes he will be welcomed with respect. So his inner 'invention halts. When does 'invention occur? It will go on the whole night when someone whacks you on the head a few times!
Dadashri: Each is progressing through his own understanding of dharma (religion). But it is very difficult to understand dharma. What currently is taking place in this world is not real dharma, it is relative. They are all moving about in the relative dharma. The whole day long they are doing their own dharma (religion), are they not?
Rendering selfless service to others is verily the definition of dharma (duty, religion) for the one who is straightforward and simple. To give happiness to others, to help get rid of their worldly obstacles, is dharma but that is not considered real dharma.
Questioner: Dada, why is it that the spiritual development of the good, straightforward, simple and benevolent people is not as fast as that of the bad people?
Real religion (dharma) does not arise as long as there is a belief of 'I am doing it', 'I am the doer', and 'I am the sufferer', as long as there is a feeling of 'I-ness'. It gives rise to the worldly or relative religions (laukik dharma). Alaukik dharma (religion of the Self, Real religion) arises when one endures suffering and 'invention' begins within. Otherwise how will 'invention' occur?
It is not easy to find the Self (the Soul), only the Tirthankars did. The Self is not what people believe it to be.
Dadashri: Bad people can never develop. The badness in bad people increases and as a result they take a lot of beating and that is when their 'invention starts. When that happens a