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Aptavani-8
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For instance, if you put a light inside this pot, and fix a lid over it, there would not be any light pouring out on the outside, it would only light the inside of the pot. Then if you break the pot, how far will the light go? The light will spread around whatever receptacles it is placed in, and throughout whatever room it is put in.
In the same way, if the Atma becomes free of coverings (niravaran), it can pervade all the regions of the universe and beyond (lok-alok). But the Atma only gives enough light to illuminate the worlds and planes of existence (lok). There are no objects to be known (gneya) in the space beyond the world - the limitless space (alok); therefore the Atma's light, that of the Knower (Gnata) does not go there. There is lok (worlds; planes of existence), which is why the other part is referred to as alok (space beyond the world; limitless space). In the space beyond the world (alok), there are no objects to be known (gneya) whatsoever. There is only space (aakash). And because there is no object to be known, the light of the Atma cannot illuminate anything over there, which is why it can illuminate the entire universe (lok). And that includes every Atma, provided that the coverings are destroyed!
Just as if you place a light inside a pot, and you pierce however many holes in the pot, that much light would gradually come out of it. In the same way, the light of the Atma comes out through the five senses. Now in the full and complete (purna) state, when the body disappears, this light spreads throughout the entire universe. That is its nature (swabhav).
Right now, it is in the body. Therefore, first you have to know the knowledge of the Self. Once you know that, it means that the ignorance over the Soul is lifted. Thereafter, all the karmas will move away by themselves and gradually things will become more clear to you. There are infinite locations (pradesh) on the Atma that are covered by veils of layers of karma. As the karmas gradually begin to discharge, the veils begin to shed.
