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DISCOURSE 23
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do not have time to read the great work. When do you have time to read it or to hear an exposition of the ideas found in it? We are now speaking of the attitude of neutrality. The fourth kind is called the Tatvasara Upeksha. Tatva means the real nature of a thing. Every object possesses its nature. The true knowledge of an object can be acquired by knowing its Swabhava or its nature - the nature peculiar to it.
Any object in Samsar, pleasant or unpleasant; good or bad does not possess the power of bringing about attachments or hatred. The great Greek philosopher Plato says that quality lies in the mind; not in the object. Attachments and hatred emerge from the Jiva's Mohadasha (or the phase of infatuation). The distortion of infatuation brings about attachments and hatred. It is not the nature of any object that inspires attachment and hatred. This is one great truth relating to the ultimate good. The man who does not know this truth about the ultimate good, is ignorant. Ignorant people believe that substances can bring about attachments and hatred. Sometimes, they become attached and sometimes, they grow hateful. They cannot maintain neutrality.. . YOUR ATTACHMENTS AND HATRED ARE THE CAUSE FOR YOUR SORROWS
No substance belonging to others is the cause of the Jiva's happiness and sorrows. This is a truth. Those who know this truth do not blame any substance speaking thus: “I have secured this substance; so I am happy. I have not secured that substance; so I am unhappy. They do not blame any object. They do not see in any object, any cause of happiness. They believe that their own attachments and hatred are the cause for their sorrows and happiness. “I love a certain object not because it is good in itself but because I have attachment in me. I dislike an object not because it is bad in itself but because of the passion of hatred in me". Thinking thus, the enlightened save themselves from attachments and hatred. This is called the Tatvasara type of neutrality.
. This is a matter of Tatva (relating to the nature of a substance); you have to understand this. . That is a good thing. This
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