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152
Letter 23
principle is understood wrongly or one has fallacious belief about it, then rest of the principles are also not understood properly.
Usually people who study and listen to the scriptures always ask the question, "What are we supposed to do then or how are we supposed to behave?" Just note that even in the question one sees the Karta Buddhi or belief of oneself being the doer. In the last two letters we have been discussing the fallacies of belief. But even then instead of realising the simple fact that all one has to do is to rectify the fallacious belief; Jeev on the contrary considers the human form to be himself, and thinks of improving the behaviour or action of the human form. From this his misconceptions about Jeev, Ajeev, Asrava and other Tattvas is seen.
Once a man was bending down and was trying to do something on the ground. His friend passing by asked him as to what he was doing. On that he said he was trying to straighten up his crooked shadow. Are you not amused? Usually one laughs very easily at other's folly! His friend advised him, saying that instead of trying to improve upon the shape of his shadow, if he himself stood straight his shadow would automatically straighten up.
We are also doing the same thing. We are identifying our own self with the modifications i.e. manifestations of the physical body and try to improve the human behaviour i.e. conduct. But our real well wishers i.e. Deva, Shastra and Guru are telling us, Oh Bhavya! (one who is eligible to attain Samyak Darshan), you just understand and experience your own self. Don't keep on looking at the modification and don't try to improve or get rid of passions and other Vibhavas. You understand and accept your own self as it is or as its Swabhava and experience it within you. Then your modifications will also turn towards their own true nature and start manifesting as per their own Swabhava.
Though these fallacious beliefs are existing since times immortal and are deep rooted, one does not have to worry or get disheartened. The only proper way to rectify our beliefs is to get immersed in one's own self after understanding the exact true nature of the seven fundamental principles.
We will see in our next letter the exact nature of these seven Tattvas as they are. That means which of them are Heya () worthy of getting rid of, Dneya () which are worthy of just knowing and which ones are Upadeya (a) worthy of taking resort into.
With love.
Your Mom.
