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...Searches Sadguru yoga!
The pursuit of the three-fold path is itself the penance for the realisation of the Self. Atma is in the form of Jnana, Darshan and Charitra and to fully manifest this true form of the self, these three are the means through which the penance has to be performed.
The Atmasiddhi Shastra' tells us about the calibre of the pure and good thoughts of an atmarthi jiva. An Atmarthi firmly believes that only such a Muni, whose external - internal ties have been severed, is a Sadguru. Whosoever has severed the internal ties, his external ties automatically get severed. And as a result the Munidasha arises naturally. Only such Nirgrantha Muni can become an exponent of the path of the pursuit of Self.
Indeed, if such a Guru is found, an atmarthi will be prepared to dedicate himself with all the three yogas at his feet. The uniqueness of the path of Supreme essence rests in him. Therefore, he strives to attain the Pratyaksha yoga of the Sadguru who indicates the track to walk on that path. No person other than a Nirgrantha Muni has the ability to make us truly realise the path of the Jineshwar. Hence,
एम विचारी अंतरे, शोधे सद्गुरुयोग,
काम एक आत्मार्थनुं, बीजो नहि मनरोग.
३७
Understanding the total futility of the strength of inanimate substances that the intellect has identified or the attraction that the senses have found in passions, the Atmarthi jiva now embarks upon a search of the Sadguru. In our country, not only in the past, but even today there are such gems of Saints, who for the pursuit of the Self, have searched for a guru for years together. To find a Guru, they would have traipsed about for years in forests and mountains, faced endless difficulties. They would not have rested peacefully until a Sadguru was found. And when a Sadguru was found, they would have made their own life worthwhile by pursuing the Self with his blessings.
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