Aptavani Shreni 08

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

Page 17

(Bheda-Gnani) can impart the awareness of one's own real Self (vastutva), through his Knowledge of separation.
In giving credence to the conviction (pratiti) about the Atma, the Gnani says that, just as fragrance exposes the existence (astitva) of perfume, the Atma – although invisible (aroopi) - can be discerned by its inherent blissful nature. The very state of the Absolute Soul (Parmatma) is infinite (anant) Knowledge (Gnan), infinite Vision (Darshan), infinite Energy (shakti), and infinite bliss (sukh). This is the You (the Self). But it is only after you have the realization of your own real form (swaroop), that all these qualities will be uncovered.
You can recognize the difference between chetan (Atma; the Self) and jada (non-Atma; inanimate) by their intrinsic properties (gunadharma). Knowledge-Vision (Gnan-Darshan), to See and to Know, is the real nature (swabhav) of Atma (chetan; the Self). No other eternal element shares the same attribute (gunadharma).
Those who doubt the existence of Soul (jiva) are like people that would say, 'there is no tongue in my mouth'. They are essentially exposing the existence of their own Atma (vastutva astitva). The one, who creates the doubt about Soul, is indeed the self. Is it possible for the nonliving (jada; non-Atma) to have doubt?
Even in the darkness, the Soul (jiva) will recognize all the individual ingredients of the spoonful of shrikhand (sweet yogurt pudding) in the mouth. The sensory nerves carry the message, but the One who knows, is the Atma. It is the soul (jiva) itself that has always been the one to desire and seek bliss.
Where there is feeling; there is Atma (Self), and where there is no feeling there is no Atma. And yet, the Atma has no feeling. It is the pudgal (the physical gross and subtle non-Self complex) that has feeling. That which moves, speaks, eats and drinks is not Atma (chetan), but where there is any knowledge or ignorance; sympathy or feeling, there is chetan (Atma, Self).
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