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(11) The Atma and The Ego
Eternal Self Questioner: Where did the Self (chetan) come from? Where does it originate?
Dadashri: It has no origin, neither does it have an end. These are just the phases and stages (avastha) of a living being (jiva). The phases (avastha) will keep changing, but the Self (vastu) remains the same.
Nature Questioner: What is nature?
Dadashri: Nature means "scientific circumstantial evidences”.
Questioner: All these scientific circumstantial evidences that come together, isn't there some sort of energy (shakti) behind it?
Dadashri: It is not a living energy; it is an inanimate energy. It is an energy that is a mixture of jada (inanimate matter; non-Self) and chetan (life-energy; the Self) in which jada happens to be in vishesha bhaav (extra-expression of intent). In all this, the Self has remained the same from time immemorial
Who Controls Whom? Questioner: Does the embodied soul (jiva) exert control over the body, or does the body exert control over the jiva?
