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Appendix I : Interpretation of Philosophical Concepts
possessions) and also how to subside passions, like attachment, pride, anger, greed etc. and how to reduce worldly activities and associations to enable himself to develop detachment. If the aspirant succeds in practising and implementing the preachings (Upadeśa- bodha, as called by Srimad ) he will find it very helpful in getting solution for philosophical problems and controversies about concepts like Creator, creation, God, soul, heaven, hell etc. (called as Siddhānta-bodha by Srimad ). This piece of advice is Śrîmad's unique contribution. If an aspirant follows this advice, he is bound to progress on the path of realization without any obstruction and with speed.
4) Pious Teacher: Śrîmad has laid very great stress on the importance ofa pious teacher and the satsanga of such a pious teacher. According to him, a teacher, who is very learned in scriptures, but has no ātmaJnāna is of very little or no use to inspire an aspirant and guide him on the path, because such teacher himself (a pedant ) has no experiece of the soul. If however. the teacher is pious and enlightened and has ātma-jñāna. he is altogether different from ordinary teachers. Srimad says that an enlightened teacher is God himself and devotion to him is devotion to God. If an aspiranı is fortunate enough to get the association (satsariga) of
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