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will take over. It is like that sheth, after he has had a bit to drink in the evening, what does he say? 'I am king of so and so.' Why does he talk like that? Has that sheth gone mad? No. He is under the influence of the alcohol, which has given rise to illusion (bhranti).
Questioner: What placed him in those circumstances, was it the Atma that put him there, or was it illusion (bhranti) that put him there? And can the Atma not control him?
Dadashri: The Atma has nothing to do with it. This is all the ego's doing. The one that is suffering is the ego (ahamkar). The one that suffers the unhappiness (dukh) is the ego, and the one that enjoys happiness (sukh) is also the ego. Therefore, when the ego disappears, you become the Atma and you are then worthy of freedom (mukti). It is because of ego that the entire worldly life (sansar) stays standing, and it is also because of ego that we have attachment-abhorrence (raag-dwesh). And all because of ego you are the doer of karma. When there is no more ego (ahamkar), you will cease to be the doer of karma. Right now, you are the doer of karma. Therefore, you are also the sufferer. It is because of illusion (bhranti) that this doership arises within you.
So the sheth was not talking gibberish, so long as he was not drinking alcohol. But as soon as he drinks the alcohol, he begins his gibberish, and would even use abusive language at someone. You could then say that karma was done by being inebriated; it was done through illusion (bhranti). But then would he not have to suffer the consequences? The other person is not likely to let it go, is he? Would he not berate him by saying, 'You were drunk and you were swearing at me.' So that is how these karmas have to be suffered. And because you yourself become the doer of the karma, you yourself are giving support to the karma. 'I am doing it.' Goodness sakes! You do not even have the power (shakti) to defecate, and why are you saying, 'I am the one doing all this.' That is precisely why these karmas are
