________________
the soul. It should be used to achieve liberation or total emancipation. But it is unfortunate that we have never tried to avoid even a single future birth. Often he used to ask himself “ Who am I ? ", " Where from have I come ?”,“What is my real nature ? Why and to what am I getting attached and identified with? Should I still cling to all that or give it up ?” In the same context he says, “If we quietly and thoughtfully think over these problems, that thinking itself, will reveal to those queries answers and also unfold philosophical principles of spiritual knowledge”. Further he says that for the above purpose, one has to believe and follow the preachings of only such faultless pure persons as have realized and experienced the self. He is, in all earnestness, advising seekers to know their self, and be equitable towards all. At this time his love and sentiment regarding detachment (vairāgya ) became very intense, so much so that he himself was rather astonished with it.38 As a result of this developed vairāgya, he stopped exhibiting his natural and super-natural powers and at his 20th year, he solely devoted himself to search of the soul by remaining in contemplation of soul and its nature (ātmabhāvanā) and samādhi and also developed intense vitarāgatā which is seen in letters written by him after his 20th year. They are full of preachings of
84