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I am the Soul
Acharya Shri Siddhasena Divakar of the 4th or 5th century of the Vikram era, has mentioned in his treatise called 'Sanmati Prakaran' that one who believes in the six padas of 'atma exists' etc., is a samakiti and one who does not is a mithyatvi. Thus the concept of these six padas has been coming along from the very beginning. We had earlier noted that Acharya Haribhadrasurishwarji too had analysed these six padas.
Here, many would be confronted with the doubt that Srimadji was a householder, then how can the shastra composed by him be accepted? But Srimadji has merely explained to us in simple words what the great sadhaka sages Shri Siddhasena Divakar and Shri Haribhadrasurishwarji Maharaj have mentioned earlier. He has not said anything of his own. Therefore, there is no reason why we should not accept this shastra. He proved the attainment of these six padas through his own practice and that is why he came to be known as Prayogaveer.
Indeed these six padas are for the person interested in knowing the paramartha - supreme essence. The sages have told these for the benefit of those in whom the yearning for parmartha has arisen, and they are to be understood with an impartial view. Brothers! Let us also be interested in parmartha within ourselves. Our self should swell with such curiosity that the jiva who has until now only involved with the swartha - self-conceit of the material world but has not been inspired to go beyond it into the paramartha, should manage to come out of the narrow shell of swartha and march towards the great world of parmartha, now that there is an opportunity of such satsang and satshravan.
Having established this background, Srimadji now proceeds to analyse the six padas of atma. If we listen to them and bring them into our belief, we can make the necessary effort towards attaining Moksa. So it continues ...
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