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I am the Soul
learned as I', the moment it has acquired some knowledge, read some treatises and understood a little. It even desires to be revered and respected and begins to expect this from people. Srimadji refers to such jivas, who have not overcome such desire for accolades and fame, which still remains within them, as unfaithful
मुखथी ज्ञान कथे अने, अंतर छूट्यो न मोह,
à 4747 yiufta, 4E THAT STE.....839
Those stubborn jivas, who claim niscaya as the only way, whose actions are not consistent with their statements, who talk about the true pure form of the atma – 'I am the eternal true pure atma, my lord atma is detached and different from all, it is the dispassionate Lord, endowed with immense power' - so on and so forth. They sing praises of many such other characteristics, thinking they are endowed with complete knowledge. However, if they are examined internally, we see that they are filled with as many passions.
They believe themselves to be the eternal truth but are not free from the fear of death; do not like to die, running away from the very mention of death. Why does an eternally true substance have to die? Yet, “What if I die?' is a thought that is nagging them always. They do not believe in their own true eternal form.
While they talk of the purity of the soul, they cannot forego even one nimitta of attachment and aversion. Their inner self is not free from the attachment for passions; not once do they falter in abetting the passions. As an experiment these wise ones should be tested by giving them the cheapest and tasteless food and their reactions, their feelings, their transitions should be observed; we will know whether their atma is well and pure or whether it is filled to the brim with the state of attachment. Brothers! In the scriptures, there is a reference to the ascetic Dhanna and some more munis like him, who would perform a severe penance of
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