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166
Aptavani-8
Dadashri: Videhi? Videhi has become the Atma (Shiva) himself! One whose living being-Atma (jiva-Shiva) separation is gone, and moreover, who has become the embodiment of the Atma (Shiva swaroop), is called videhi. For us, it was King Janak who became one.
Doing-Suffering Is the State of the Jiva
It is a living being's ignorant belief that 'I am going to die'. So the living being (jiva) lives as long as it is there; otherwise it dies. The condition or state (avastha) of living and dying is called a living being (jiva). The never-born and immortal (ajanma amar), is called the Atma; it is called Shiva. The pure Soul (Shuddhatma) is Shiva. When one understands, 'I am Shiva', one attains salvation!
As long as one's awareness is that of, 'I am doing, I am suffering', one is a living being (jiva). The living being (jiva) is a doer-sufferer (karta- bhokta). And when the awareness of, 'I am the non-doer and the non-sufferer (akarta-abhokta)', becomes established in his belief (shraddha), one becomes Atma. Once it becomes established into his conviction (pratiti), he has become Atma. And after that, whether it manifests or not, is a different matter. That is because its manifestation (rupak) will come later.
Questioner: I did not understand which condition or state (avastha) of the living being (jiva) you were referring to?
Dadashri: Doing-suffering (karta-bhokta) is the condition or state (avastha) of the living being (jiva)! 'I am doing this, I am suffering this'; that is the living being's condition. 'I am suffering this', is a temporary (vinashi) state. Does one not say, 'I will die'? He may even say, 'I am still going to live another fifteen years'. They say that, do they not?
Questioner: Yes, they say that.
Dadashri: That is the living being (jiva).
