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Means of Self-Realization soul is different from body, it has the inherent quality of knowledge and it is indestructible. What he means to say is that in the process of acquiring right knowledge a teacher plays an important and significant role. However, an aspirant studying scriptures by himself is not enough. He must study them with the help of a pious teacher. This stress of Śrîmad on the role of pious teacher shows how he values the importance of a right or good teacher (sadguru) and his preachings. He has said that he wants to make no difference between a pious teacher, a saint and God. The reason for his saying so is very sound. He says, "It is such a teacher, who introduces God to him. Through him only he knows what is, who is and where is God, and his relation with God.”45
6. Importance of Guru
At an early age of 16, he wrote his book called Moksa - mālā' and there he has stressed the importance of satsariga of a satpuruşa.46 He has said that satsariga is the root of happiness and it is the best means to purify oneself. If one is in bad company (kusariga), diseases of his soul like, attachment, pride, anger. lust and ignorance increase, but good company (satsariga) helps one's soul to be free from such passions and
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