________________
276
Aptavani-8
state. So the main thing is that one needs the awareness (jagruti). Do you have less awareness?
Questioner: Yes, Dada. So we have to attain the continuous experience of the Atma.
Dadashri: Yes. Continuous, meaning constant; that you do not forget even at night – then know that you have attained something. If not, then nothing else will be of any use! For many avatars (births; lifetimes) one has attained this kind of mixed-up (bhelvaado) Atma. Bhel (savory snack mixture) is twelve rupees a kilo, and even the mixed-up Atma is twelve rupees a kilo, and so all the people yelling about the Atma, are all referring to the Atma which is also twelve rupees to the kilo. No one is saying, 'Here, I am giving you the real Atma, come and take it!
Or else, they give you a recitation (smaran), a name to recite (naam smaran), saying keep reciting this! Hey you, one can only do recitation (smaran), if one acquires an attachment (raag) for it. And where there is attachment, everything there, is the worldly life (sansar), and where there is the worldly life, there is recitation (smaran). There should be no recitation whatsoever. Recitation should be the last resort. In a way, it does keep you in focused concentration (ekagrata); however it is a last resort. Besides, that which constantly remains in one's awareness, is the Atma. Anything else is the mixed-up (bhelvaado) Atma.
Zero Has No Value Without the One
Questioner: Does Self-realization (Atmagnan) mean, to know your Self?
Dadashri: Yes, to know the Self, that is all, nothing else.
Questioner: Now, in order to know something, you have to delve deep into it. So in the same way, if we want to know the Atma, do we have to go deep within ourselves?
