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Aptavani-4
201
Questioner: Dada, there is no upayog anywhere, so no one talks about it.
Dadashri: There is no upayog left anywhere. That is why no one is talking about upayog. People have failed to use upayog and that is why it has been set aside. Otherwise, is it not easy to understand upayog when it is explained to you?
Questioner: It is easy when someone explains it.
Dadashri: The Lord has said that if you turn something that is inauspicious (ashubha), into something auspicious (shubha), do it with applied awareness (upayog). And once you enter shuddha (pure), then it is shuddha upayog (pure applied awakened awareness), which means that You are now Parmatma (the Absolute Self). That is why You have been told to maintain upayog. Really, you can do just about everything, but it does not mean anything. Nevertheless, you will benefit in some way, your efforts will not go to waste. Not even for a minute have I ever forsaken shuddha upayog (pure applied awakened awareness) any given day. I am constantly in pure awareness. I have no use for shubha upayog. ‘Shuddha upayogi ne samatadhari, gnan dhyan manohari,
Karma kalank ko dur nivari, jiva vare shivnari’ “The one with shuddha upayog is poised in the Self His knowledge and meditation captivates the mind Aloof he remains from the binding of karma,
Becomes he the absolute (Shiva)'
Questioner: What if our mahatmas who have attained Self-realization practice fasting?
Dadashri: It will help them a lot. A single fast will give them a whole year's benefit, but they must maintain a lot of awakened awareness (jagruti).
The Lord has said that if a person fasted for just one day
