________________
be possible in future. The realization is therefore the most purposeful. The best way for that is to listen to a true Guru or to ponder over the contents of right scriptures. If any worldly soul wants to get rid of the misery, if he wants to be completely free from that, there is no way for him except resorting to that path. One should therefore stay above all differences of opinions, family creed, popular beliefs, traditional viewpoints, and exclusively resort to the obligation of selfcontemplation.
"The liberation-seeker should have a firm determination that for securing beneficence there is nothing more important than the wholesome contact. It is very beneficial to desire staying in such contact day and night and to think continually about the adverse outcome of the wrong contact.
"Here prevails the state as destined and hence there is no loss of equanimity even while getting involved in major worldly activities. The calmed-down and tranquil state is maintained in spite of feeling disgusted of the worldly activities; but there continually stays a desire for wholesome contact. The high significance of such contact experienced during the earlier lives repeatedly comes to the memory, and desire for the same occurs continuously in the mind." (375)
"Purity of Kshayopasham (destruction cum subsiding of Karma) increases with the growth of detachment and calmed down state, and that leads at ease towards the knowledge of fundamentals. If one gains the state of total disassociation, it becomes very easy to understand the nature of soul. Such a state of disassociation comes out of detachment and calm-down. That aspect is repeatedly mentioned and detailed at length in Jain and Vaidic scriptures. As such, it is no doubt worthwhile to ponder over the contents of Yogväsishthya and other books, which are helpful in securing a calmed down state.
The purpose of advising contrary to the popular belief:- "There was no purpose other than supreme benefit, if we talked to you, to Devkaranji or to any other liberation-seeker about that. We learnt about the necessity of retreating from the worldly life by seeing its horrible and frightening nature. By that learning there arose tranquility and the state of equanimity within. The great men have repeatedly stated that such learning occurs in this world by virtue of infinite wholesome Karma. The darkness has prevailed in this hard times and that has virtually enveloped the path of learning. In a way we feel sad that we obtained this embodiment at such time, but we have reconciled to it keeping in view the supreme benefit. During this embodiment, however, it happens at times to tell some liberation-seekers about averting the popular mode of life. That has spontaneously happened in your and Devkaranji's case. But while saying that there has not been insistence that you should do as we say, if there happens to be any insistence, it is due to its being beneficial. If this is kept in mind, our contact can turn out to be fruitful.
"One should look towards his own faults to the utmost possible extent and have innocent view towards others. As far as possible he should resort to detachment and calmed down state. That is the foremost thing to remember. (500)
True discernment:- Shrimad writes in a letter to Mahatma Gandhi at Durban, "There is existence of soul, it is eternal, it is Karta of its karma, it bears the consequences, it can retreat from that and there are means for retreat. The omniscient Lord has stated that the thinking, which leads to conviction of these six aspects, constitutes true discernment or right perception. The liberationseeker needs to practice that at length. Contemplation of these six aspects arises by earlier practicing or by resorting to the wholesome contact.
"By virtue of attachment towards the ephemeral objects, one does not realize the existence, eternity and unobstructed bliss of soul. Since the infinity the worldly soul remains so absorbed in its sense of attachment that while exercising discernment it turns back. On several occasions earlier it has happened that the soul has given up discernment before uprooting the knot of attachment. One cannot give up what he has practiced since the infinity. As such, it is necessary to repeatedly resort to wholesome contact as well as to right scriptures and to endeavor for forthright contemplative mode. Thereby one can gain eternal, everlasting and blissful self
