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190
Aptavani-4
The Meaning of Religion
Religion (dharma) exists even outside. Religion exists in places of worship; in temples and monasteries, and everywhere people go. But there is no meaning left in it. You cannot find meaning (marma) there any longer. If you have a nice big mango, but when you slice it, all you find is just the stone and the skin around it, so what meaning (marma; substance) is there to it? It is just like the religions of today; without substance! Religion means to look for the real thing (Self), but with a wrong belief. 'This' (Akram) here, is a science. Religion should be something that helps you gather the tools (sadhan) to guide you for spirituality.
Even That Kind of Awareness Is a Great Awareness!
Viradhana of the guru is to oppose, criticize and offend the very person from whom one has attained something; it is to destroy the foundation that one has created through one's guru. Such a person is called purva viradhak jiva (did viradhana in his previous life). In this era, there are purva viradhak souls, of which I myself too was one once. I became aware that I too was one of them and it was after this realization that the Gnan manifested in me.
Recognizing The Guru
Questioner: If I make someone my guru, without much thought, and later I realize that it was a mistake and I picked the wrong person, what should I do?
Dadashri: You do not have to recognize the guru; you just develop a liking for him that leads you to make him your guru. No one knows how to recognize a guru. Where is the art of recognizing precious jewelry? These people are likely to present you with glass instead of diamonds. We have ways to test authenticity of diamonds, but where are you going to find
