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Aptavani-8
become Chandubhai, which is why this temporary adjustment has come about. You became the owner of the body, and you have believed, 'I am Chandubhai', and 'this body is indeed who I am', so when this dies, you will also have to die with it!
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Questioner: The Atma is without birth and death (ajanma-amar), so what is it that comes and goes (avagaman)?
Dadashri: The Atma is indeed without birth and death (ajanma-amar), and it is always pure. Except that it has been affected by the five eternal elements (tattva); however when it becomes free of their influence, the Atma is indeed free. It is truly without birth and death (ajanma-amar); when it comes to know its own state (swaroop), that is when the cycles of comings and goings (avagaman) all come to a halt.
Questioner: But who undergoes the cycle of coming and going; birth and death (avagaman)?
Dadashri: That which is the ego (ahamkar) is what goes through the cycle of birth and death (avagaman). The Atma remains in its same state. The ego comes to an end, and so its cycle ends!
Therefore, birth and death, do not happen to the Atma. The Atma is something permanent. Birth and death occur for the egoism. Egoism itself takes birth. And moreover, it says to the doctor, 'Sir, save me, save me.' Hey you! Are you not permanent? And he will say, 'No, I am temporary.' So all this is nothing but a battle of egoism. Only the Gnani Purush can remove that egoism. Egoism is the result of ignorance (agnan), and it is because of it, that this worldly life (sansar) still stands. In 'us' the egoism is completely gone.
Questioner: Where did the ego (ahamkar) and the Atma, and all that come together? I still cannot understand.
Dadashri: It is just an extra result (vishesha parinam).
