________________
Aptavani-8
111
his existence (astitva), and he cannot feel (experience) his own existence, so although the existence (astitva) is there, he does not have a conviction about it. Is that not right?
Dadashri: No. There can never be any such person who does not feel the sense of 'I am' (existence). Everyone has the feeling, 'I am’. The words 'I am’, themselves proclaim one's existence.
This is how it is: every living being (jiva) has its existence, and it is aware of that existence (astitva). So it has some kind of awareness of 'I am', and that awareness never leaves. Even at night, while asleep, one is aware of 'I am’. So, one definitely has the awareness of existence. However, one does not have the awareness of vastutva (the Self); “Who am I? Now, if a Gnani Purush were to give him the knowledge (Gnan) and it manifests, then he would advance.
What we are saying is that every living being has awareness of its existence (astitva), but it does not have awareness of its Self (vastutva). If one realizes ‘Who he is' (vastutva), then one continues onwards towards the absolute state (purnatva). And the absolute state is independent (niralumb); it happens on its own, naturally and spontaneously (sahaj swabhav). Just as after the second day of a lunar fortnight (beej) there is the third lunar day (treej), and then the fourth lunar day (choth), it all happens naturally on its own accord, does it not? As long as you do not become obstinate, there is no problem. But if you uproot the sapling (of Gnan) in this way, then it becomes a problem. And if it ever gets uprooted, then you should know how to replant it!
When everything is explained to you, you will see that the Atma stays the same. However many kinds of human beings there are, and however many types of living entities (jivas) that there are, there are that many kinds of Atma. However, there is no true (darasal) Atma in that. All these are mechanical atmas - do you understand that fact?
