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Means of Self-Realization
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no use, without being a devotee to the enlightened. It is devotion to him that takes one near the goal of liberation and not the learning. Learning may make one a great pandita, but it may, at the same time, fill out one's ego and generate attachment for more and more leaming, along with attachment to name and fame and, in this sequence, to the whole world. Thus there will crop up most formidable obstructions in the way of seeking self- realization. Learning will theoretically teach an aspirant the path to be followed, the goal to be aimed at etc., but unless one actually practises and follows the path vigorously one cannot get rid of attachment. ego, greed etc.. An enlightened person being full of such virtues like non-attachment, egolessness, nonpossession etc., his presence itself inspires an aspirant to get rid of his passions, especially ego and attachment and helps him imbibe such qualities.
It is, of course, very difficult to have the association of an enlightened sadguru in these days. Till an aspirant is lucky enough to have such association. lie should be a devotee of paramātmā who has achieved final and total emancipation and is omniscient, as hic is one who has destroyed all his karma bandhas. Such a state is called 'siddūvusthū : An aspirani's ambition should be
