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I am the Soul
339 we have this wonderful Shastra with us today. Just as the curiosity of Ganadhar Gautam about the principles fed the curiosity of the entire congregation around Bhagawan Mahaveer, and as a result we have the tradition of the Agamas. In the same way, Srimadji has offered us this Shastra on account of the curiosity of his eligible devotee - shishya Shri Soubhagyabhai, in which beyond this point, the six padas will be described.
The other thing is that, when Sthulibhadra Muni erred a little, his progress stopped. Now, we have already been errant and if we were to err more, what would be our fate? It is difficult to imagine. If somebody who has progressed so far could also err, then we are more likely to err, and as such we need to be more alert. We need to learn acquiring eligibility looking at Sthulibhadra's eligibility and looking at his shortcoming, learn to save ourselves from it.
Brothers! In 'Atmasiddhi Shastra', what is to be mainly described, are the six padas, which we shall do hence forth. But Srimadji has built up a background - fundamentals through 42 Gathas, so that all would become able to understand these padas. It is most essential that the fundamentals are clear. Only on a clear background can clear lines be engraved. We have to engrave the picture of a complete man - purna purush - on the Atma taking one line at a time. Hence, first of all let us make our background plain and clear.
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