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296
Aptavani-8
The Experience of the Atma; Completely
Different from All Other Experiences
Questioner: On one hand we say, that there is nothing except for the Atma, and on the other hand, you employ the word Atmanubhav (experience of the Self, Atma), which creates uncertainty. If there is nothing other than the Atma, then could something called experience (anubhav), be inserted into thoughts, or inserted in the mind, or is it just an interference?
Dadashri: No, it is nothing like that.
Questioner: I am just asking, because we have to use the word Atmanubhav.
Dadashri: The only reason that word has to be used is because until the Atma is realized, one needs a ladder. It is from where you are standing, that 'we' (the Gnani) – in order to make you understand – need to show you the stepping (pave a way). And what is the meaning of Atmanubhav (experience of the Atma)? Right now, you have the belief that you are the body (dehadhyas), so what kind of experience (anubhav) are you having? The kind of experience you have is, “I am the body', 'I am even this name', 'I am also this mind'. Therefore through the experience of the Atma (Atmanubhav), what 'we' are trying to say, is that this experience is very different to the experience of the body (dehadhyas). Therefore, you can say that after having had such an experience, that you have attained the Atma. Otherwise, how can you say that you have attained the Atma, if you have not even had the experience (anubhav)? Which is why, you have to include the word experience (anubhav), in order to help one understand. It is because you cannot directly say Atma. If you have new kinds of experiences, other than the experience that you have right now, of 'I am this body (dehadhyas), you will feel in your mind, that this experience (anubhav) is different to that one, and you will feel certain that this is indeed the experience of the Self, (Atmanubhav). Only
