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Aptavani-8
197
Dadashri: Yes. Prameya (contained space; receptacle) means, this body would be considered as prameya and even this universe would be considered as prameya. The Atma itself is the pramaata (illuminator). Right now, the Atma is in the body, so what would be the extent of the Atma's light at this point in time? What would be it's extent? It is limited to the body. Now, if Atma has full Knowledge (Gnan) and becomes free of the body, then what would the extent of the light become? That light, would illuminate the entire receptacle (prameya); the entire universe. The pramaata would assume the expanse of the prameya (receptacle). The light will occupy the space of whatever receptacle it is in! So after the atma attains absolute Knowledge (Keval Gnan), if the Atma becomes free of the body, then this pramaata would spread throughout the entire prameya (receptacle). Atma's light would spread across the entire universe. Currently, what is the extent? Then one would say, 'Only to the extent of the body.'
If you put a light inside a pot, it will have intensity, and when the pot is broken, the light will flood the room, and its intensity would decrease. Therefore, the further this light spreads, the less intense it becomes. That is because it is physical (paudgalik) light. Whereas the light of the Atma never loses intensity, no matter how much it spreads, even if it spreads throughout the entire universe, it always remains the same.
Omnipresent, by Relative Viewpoint
Therefore the Atma is omnipresent (sarvavyapak), and such statements are relative (sapeksha); however, people have taken them literally as real fact (nirpeksha) and the belief is misconstrued; what is meant to be rubbed on, they drink instead. That is relative (sapeksha), so what does it mean? It means that the Atma does not become omnipresent (sarvavyapak), when all humans die. When those with Absolute Knowledge (Kevalis) and Tirthankars reach nirvana (moksha), their Atma which is released, illuminates the entire universe; it becomes omnipresent
