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1-46
I am the Soul
Perhaps the most repeated word in this compilation is Jiva - the being. Mahasatiji, in her discourses, has built all her postulates around this Jiva, who is in search of the true identity and has realised that there exists a Soul within, independent of the body. The Jiva has been referred to in the neuter gender and encompasses the male and the female beings. Similarly, Mahasatiji's penchant for addressing the audience as 'Brothers' does not preclude women. It is merely a translation of the original 'Bandhu' which could literally mean 'a relative'.
This actually is the hallmark of Mahasatiji's endearing style. At times her comments are scathing while at other times scalding; at times she appears to be goading the audience, at other times she is admonishing them. But her concern, her compassion is genuine. Here is a traveller far advanced on the path in search of the Self. She is well aware of the futility of the mundane. It is but natural for her to develop a feeling of compassion towards those who straggle on the path.
Originally, Mahasatiji had built in a pattern of meditative introspection of about ten minutes along with her discourse. Several such introspective sessions have been presented in the original as 'Atma Chintan' - Contemplating the Self. Only four of those have been presented here in this edition.
The famous advertisement line 'the real thing' is indeed to be appreciated here, for the translator has had a limitation in expressing the original into English, owing to his limited vocabulary. So there is nothing like being able to read and relish the original Gujarati compilation, which is running into its third edition now. If the reader is not conversant with Gujarati, then there is also the Hindi version available.
Continuing on the idea of 'the real thing', Srimadji has suggested in the Shastra, that one has to yearn for and seek out Satsang - a company of the sages, where it is possible to glean
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