Aptavani Shreni 04

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Dada Bhagwan Aradhana Trust

Page 18

evening, a person runs around, preoccupied with his job or business, respires, reads books and scriptures, meditates, does chanting of God's name (japa or mantra) and penance. That is destiny (prarabdha). After we eat our food, what purusharth (self-effort) do we make for its digestion? Nature runs our 'inner machinery'so pleasantly, without any interference in our part, so will it not run the ‘outer' matters as well? But because of the ignorance about it, one cannot help one's egoism of, 'I am the doer?!
In the running waters of the river Narmada, if a rock turns into the shape of an idol (shaligram), who did what sort of selfeffort there? And if the other rocks remained stones and sunk in the ocean, is it because of their 'laziness'? Who is the 'doer' here, and how much doership’ is there? Things happen according to whatever circumstances one encounters! In the path of natural and spiritual evolution (samsaran marg), all the living beings, some after infinite collisions and wanderings, take birth in India. And there, if one meets the Gnani Purush, and by his grace, attains the Self-realization, one becomes an idol (shaligram)! Only after Self-realization does one become the 'Self' (Purush) and does the “real'Self-effort (purusharth). Until then, it is called deluded or illusory self-effort (bhrant purusharth). Real Self-effort is when there is no attachmentabhorrence in the resultant effect of the non-Self complex (pudgal).
Because of the existence of ego, the seeds (causes) of karma are being sown. And when they yield fruits (effects); the result is either bitter or sweet. Now it is considered deluded self-effort (bhrant-purusharth) to change an improper 'effect' to a proper one! Whatever circumstances that present themselves is destiny, and self-effort is needed to maintain equanimity. To maintain steadiness in ‘slippery' circumstances, is self-effort. To change artadhyan and raudradhyan into dharmadhyan is selfeffort.
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