Aptavani 06

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Mahavideh Foundation

Page 51

Aptavani-6
Aptavani-6
state of, 'I am pure Soul (Shuddhatma) is the egoless (nirahamkar) state. 'I am a Patel,' 'I am 50 years old,' 'I am a collector,' 'I am a lawyer,' etc.; it is all ego.
Questioner: That which prompts one to do good, is that the ego too?
Dadashri: Yes, that too is ego. Even that which prompts one to do wrong is also ego. One can never tell when the ego will do wrong from right because it is blind.
You might be giving someone some alms and if that man happens to say something wrong, you may turn around and beat him up. This is because of the ego that gets hurt.
Questioner: When a soldier says he is fighting for India, is that also ego?
Dadashri: Yes, that is all ego and in the final analysis, it is of no benefit to him. He binds some merit karma. There is no telling when a do-good' ego will do something wrong. He might be fighting for India today and tomorrow he may even start fighting with his captain. There is no telling about him. The ego is shameless. You never know when it will turn negative. It is a thing that has no goal or aim. When the ego is used for the right goal with persistence, it brings worldly success and fame.
Questioner: But is the ego not necessary for progress?
Dadashri: That ego is naturally there. The ego is not something that you can keep at will, even if you try to. It will somehow manage to slip back in on its own.
Questioner: It is written in psychology texts that some ego is necessary for personality development, is that true?
Dadashri: Such ego is naturally present. It is a law of nature that the ego arises for proper development and one grows. And as the development approaches a certain level (life after
life) and reaches its peak, then one takes birth in India. Thereafter, there is no need for development. Who would use such a crazy ego once he attains the path to liberation (moksha)? No matter how good a person is - he may be very generous and charitable - but when he goes home, he has a lot of worries and problems. The whole day long, there is inner suffering (antardah).
Qualities of a Self-realized Being
Questioner: If I have realized the Self, what qualities will I start to have? What changes will take place within me that will tell me that I am on the right path?
Dadashri: First, the egoism comes to a stop. Then when anger, pride, deceit and greed leave, know that the Self has been attained. Have you attained such qualities?
Questioner: No, that has not happened yet.
Dadashri: Therefore, when such qualities arise, realize then that you have become the Self. At the moment, you are *Chandubhai.' If someone makes a comment, 'This Dr. Chandubhai ruined my health,' will that have any affect on you while you are sitting here?
Questioner: It will affect me.
Dadashri: Therefore, you are 'Chandubhai'! And if someone curses this *Ambalal' (Dadashri's worldly name), then 'T' will tell this 'Ambalal,' 'Look, you must have said something to him which is why he is cursing you.' 'We experience complete and continuous separation (from Ambalal). When that separation happens to you, your puzzle will be solved. Otherwise, the puzzles will continue to arise every day.
Questioner: Are all these puzzles woven into the fabric of our life or are they there for us to suffer the karma?
Dadashri: That is the misunderstanding. Human beings