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ASPIRANT'S GUIDE
GENERAL NATURE OF ATMAJAGRUTI The nature of Atmajagruti can be clarified by one example. If we are attentive to the contents of a lecture that we are hearing, it is full awareness. If one's memory is not sharp, one may fail to remember what is heard, but even in such cases, the general purport would definitely be grasped. If we are not awake and alert, we would neither know what has been said, nor grasp its essence. What is true of a lecture is also true of scriptural study, devotion, Satsanga, contemplation and singing eulogistic songs (Kirtana).
Let us now consider another type of alertness, useful to the Sadhaka (aspirant). In this type, one must be alert even at times other than those of Sadhana. To illustrate, one should be alert not to hurt any insects or other small beings under the feet while waiking. We should keep to the same care and alertness in bathing, using water, sweeping, lighting a fire, arranging things, and so on. If we are careful, alertness becomes a habit and a really high state of Sadhana will reveal itself in
cause we have come to live a life where alertness has become our second nature.
SUPREME SPIRITUAL ATMAJAGRUTI Let us now come to the life of the most successful Sadhaka, that is, a true saint. Let us examine what Atmajagruti is, how, when and to what extent it is manifested, what reward it yields in life, and so on.
When the Sadhaka comes to the status of a saint, through self-realization, his whole personality gets surcharged with a unique divinity. The reason is that he has cut off the knots of infatuation (Moha) and as a result. constant Atmajagruti has
a part and parcel of all his activities. Just as a retired person. not earning at present continues to earn interest on his money earned earlier, the saint with self-knowledge also experiences a peculiar awakenness due to the elimination of false knowledge (Avidya).
When the knots of attachments are cut off by the saint the inner strength of his soul almost explodes. As a result, he is capable of great spiritual accomplishments (Aradhana). He becomes fearless, takes no notice of external disturbances, and
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SADHAK-SATHI
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