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Chapter 1: Background
આત્માદિ અસ્તિત્વનાં, જેહ નિરૂપક શાસ્ત્ર; પ્રત્યક્ષ સદ્ગુરુ યોગ નહિ, ત્યાં આધાર સુપાત્ર.
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Ätmädi Astitvanä, Jeh Nirupak Shastra; Pratyaksha Sadguru Yoga Nahin, Tyan Adhär Supätra.
The scriptures dealing with existence of soul, etc. can be the recourse for
the deserving aspirants, where direct contact with the true Guru is not available.
- 13
Explanation & Discussion:
The importance of the Guru has been explained in the preceding two stanzas. However, the question is, "How to meet the Guru, who satisfies the criteria laid down in the 10th stanza?" There was shortage of such true Gurus even in good times, It is therefore no wonder that they would be rarely available in the present declining time cycle. If some of them exist, they are likely to stay away from society. It would therefore be improbable to come across a true Guru. Under these circumstances, whom to rely upon would be a problem for spiritual aspirants.
This stanza states the way for the aspirants in absence of a true Guru. It should be noted that this is meant only for the deserving aspirants. It states that the aspirants, who have gained
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