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I am the Soul
117
Just as the seed has to sprout on its own, the Jiva too has to acquire the science of the detachment within itself on its own, even when it gets safekeeping in the form of guidance or manurewater in the form of the Guru's words. And if these feelings settle down in the Soul, they grow steadily on to achieve the development in the form of the levels of gunasthanas and ultimately the fruit of Moksa, which has appeared with the infinite and unbounded state.
Thus the term - 3:1 - sprouts placed in the Gatha is effective with its complete meaningfulness.
Normally, why doesn't the thought of atma sprout in a jiva? Where the seed is itself unfit, how will it sprout?
Brothers! You have probably heard of the 'Instant Watermelon Seed'. A villager had the seeds of such a watermelon, which when sown, would sprout immediately, grow in five-six minutes, bloom, flower and even yield fruit. In just under ten minutes of sowing you'd get tasty watermelons sweet as honey.
The villager would tour from place to place with the seed and earned his living by selling it. Once he reached the capital of a generous King. The King was greatly pleased by listening to his story. It was decided that if on the next day the villager could prove his claim in the presence of the citizens, the King would give away half his kingdom to him. But the faithful minister did not like the idea. He felt that if it really were so, and if the villager were to be successful in his claim, then half the kingdom would go to him and that was not right. The minister played a trick.
He escorted the villager with great honour to his own residence and after gaining his confidence asked him to show the seeds. Without letting him realise it, the minister managed to bake the seeds. Next morning this man presented himself before the king and very enthusiastically planted the seeds to show the wonderful miracle. He waited awhile for the sprouts to
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