The Goal Of Human Life

Editor : Deepak Desai

February, 2006, Vol. : 1, Issue : 4, Conti. Issue No.: 4

DADAVANI The Goal Of Human Life

Publisher & Owner : Mahavideh Foundation, 5, Mamtapark Society, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad-380014 Gujarat, India.

EDITORIAL Most human beings live their life but they do not have a goal in life. Some have lived for money, some for their livelihood, some for worldly success, some for becoming a head of a large industry, some for raising a family, some for seeking and penance. One aim or another is automatically bound and a lifetime finishes. Alternatively a lifetime finishes in solving financial, personal or family problems. Revered Gnani Purush Dadashri cautions us that there must be an aim to human life. The main aim should be to attain the knowledge of the Self and Salvation(Moksha). The secondary aim should be to spend life helping others. If nothing else is understood, then life should be spent without hurting anyone. Everything else is a waste of time and energy. Once the aim is resolved within, whether it is attained or not, the awareness of the aim helps one attain the goal.

Many people have the aim of attaining God, but to do this one must get to know the true nature of God. Just by chanting the name, spending fifteen minutes a day in front of an idol of God, does not lead to God realization. For this one needs to find and meet a Gnani Purush.

By attaining the grace of the Gnani, the Self is realized and then the true awareness of God is attained. This God is the pure Soul and when one becomes one with the Self, direct devotion commences. The devotional practices seen in the world are indirect. For salvation direct devotion is necessary.

Life after life one has wished for liberation, but has not really resolved seriously for it.

When an unflinching inner resolve is established to spend all the merit karma in attaining it (niyanu), one meets a Gnani Purush and attains Gnan. After Gnan, the niyanu has to be for moksha and the worldly wishes should be for salvation of the world. When the niyanu for moksha is established one attains final liberation in one or two life times.

The aim has to be with the understanding of Gnan, not with ego mediated understanding.

This is because the well meaning ego is often unpredictable and may lead one on the wrong path. The aim that is established with correct vision and knowledge will lead one to the end.

The mind may interfere but not listening to the mind and proceeding according to the current understanding leads one to the goal.

In this Dadavani, The Gnani Purush Dadashri makes us all understand the true nature of the goal of human life. The ultimate goal of human life is to be totally free from all kashayas of anger, greed, deceit and pride. This issue will provide the reader with many keys to attain this goal towards the Self.

- Deepak Desai Subscription : Yearly Subscription - India: 100 Rupees, USA: 10 Dollars, UK: 7 Pounds 15 Years Subscription - India: 800 Rupees, USA: 100 Dollars, UK: 75 Pounds Press : Mahavideh Foundation, Basement, Parshvanath Chambers, Nr. RBI, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad-380014

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The Goal of Human Life (This is a humble attempt to present to the world the essence of the teachings of Dadashri, the Gnani Purush.

A lot of care has been taken to preserve the tone and message of the satsang. This is an elementary introduction to the vast treasure of his teachings. Please note that any errors encountered in the translation are entirely those of the translators. In this translation 'Y' in 'You' or 'S' in 'Self' refers to the awakened Self or the Self.

For a glossary of the terms, please refer to: www.dadashri.org/glossary.html and www.ultimatespirituality.org)

The goal of humanity Questioner: What is the goal of human life?

Dadashri: One should have passed by 50 % the examination that qualifies entry into life as a human being. If one has higher aims as a human being then he should attain 90% marks in the examination. Human qualities are necessary, isn't it? Where there is no humanity, how can one have an aim at all?

This life here is all ‘fractured’, without any aim. One does not even know why he is living. What is the essence of human life? It is the stage where one can decide his future life form. One can also decide for liberation, moksha when one becomes a human being.

Questioner: What is the prerequisite for attaining the exact goal of human life and how long is this endeavor possible?

Dadashri: One should know the qualities of ideal human beings and one should know how to attain them. One should go and sit near those human beings who have attained qualities of humanity.

The aim of helping others Questioner: A man may live his life for others, and may even say so. But people are not willing to understand such a man at all, What then?

Dadashri: The one who is out to help others does not make any judgments about the understanding of the person receiving the help.

If he does, then he has become a lawyer. One is not to see any understanding of the other.

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These lemon and mango trees here produce wonderful fruits. How many mangoes does the mango tree eat?

Questioner: Not a single one.

Dadashri: Who are the mangoes for?

Questioner: For the use of others.

Dadashri: Yes, does the tree make any judgments, ‘this guy here is greedy, and this one is good?’ The fruit is for whoever takes it.

The tree lives for the benefit of others. To live a life thus gives the souls (the trees) the right to ascend higher and higher towards liberation.

Questioner: Many times the one who goes out to help others becomes a target for accusations and criticisms by the very ones whom he has been helping.

Dadashri: Yes, that happens.

Questioner: Is this because of lack of understanding?

Dadashri: Where will one attain that understanding? If that understanding is there, then the work is done.

Benevolence and helping others is the highest state of human life. It is a great goal of human life.

That which lets one attain the goal is religion There is no meaning in a life without a goal. One earns dollars, enjoys his meals and worries the whole day long. How can that be a goal of life? How can this human birth not be wasted? After being born as a human being what should one do to attain the goal? If you February 2006

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want happiness of worldly comforts (bhautik sukh) then share with others what you have.

When you share your happiness with others then you may expect happiness, otherwise you will not get happiness. And if you give pain and unhappiness to others you will get pain and misery in return.

Learn the law of this world and of all religion, in one sentence. If you want happiness give happiness to others and if you want to suffer, give pain to others. Do what is suitable to you. Some will inquire about how to help others if you are poor. There are ways to help others even if you are poor. This is by having an obliging nature. You may run chores and errands for him, advise him etc. There are so many ways to help others.

Religion does not mean to sit around the images of the Lord constantly. Religion is to reach your goal of life. It is beneficial to find that which focuses your attention for your spiritual progress. But why not focus on obliging others? This is the best focus for spiritual progress. If you decide, that you want to oblige others, you will find a change happening within you. Decide that you do not want wildness.

If you decide not to be wild with the wild people then you will be helped. Is this not possible? Will not a change start to happen once you decide?

Questioner: It is difficult, Dada.

Dadashri: It may be difficult, but it is possible because you hail from the land of India.

You are no ordinary human being. You are the descendent of the great sages and rishis of India. Tremendous inner energies lie dormant within you. They are currently blocked and therefore you are not able to use them. If you resolve to help others as I tell you, these energies will express. Otherwise how long will you carry on wildly like this? And you are not able to enjoy any real bliss so far, are you?

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Does this wildness carry with it any bliss?

Questioner: No. Dadashri: On the contrary, you are inviting pain and suffering.

A new goal today: reactions of past life Questioner: Should one live a life for the benefit of others only?

Dadashri: Yes. One should live for others. But, if you change your line of life suddenly, there will be reactions of the past, which will bother you and may even frustrate you, ‘do I have to tolerate this?’ After some time of such tolerance, it will smoothen out for you. Past reactions will come because you are building an entirely new line in life. What you had created so far, its fruits will come, right?

Two types of goals in worldly life Questioner: What should one do to attain his goal in life?

Dadashri: What goal have you decided for this human life? Tell me.

Two types of goals need to be decided.

The first is that if you cannot meet a Gnani Purush then until then, you have to live your life in such a way that no living being is hurt by you. You have to spend your time in the company (satsang) and vicinity of good human beings and avoid bad company (kusang) as much as possible. This should be the aim.

The supreme goal of not hurting a single living being to the slightest extent should be there. It is not our independent authority to give happiness to others. And if you happen to meet a Gnani Purush then remain in his satsang. With Him, all your goals will be accomplished and all your puzzles will be solved.

So what then is the goal of a human being? Human beings of India have the potential to become Gods. To attain one’s own Supreme Self is the final goal of a human being.

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Dadashri: What next?

To eat to live or to live to eat?

Why do people brush their teeth all their life? After the age of 60 can one be excused from brushing? Why were Jain monks told not to brush their teeth? Why does one clean the tongue?

Our people clean their tongue to improve the taste of food, not solely for cleaning it. If it was really necessary to clean the tongue then the dogs and cats would have to do the same.

This is an invention of human beings to improve their tastes of food. The monks (sadhus) on the other hand are told not to savor food but just go and get whatever they can, mix it all and just eat it. Hence they have no reason to clean the tongue. Our people on the other hand eat all kinds of sweets, spicy, fried and all kinds of gourmet preparations for their enjoyment and these foods then lead to unpleasant odors. They need to clean their tongues. Monks have to just fill their stomach to live whereas worldly people are living to enjoy food. Do you see the point?

Questioner: Yes. Yet I see some of these renunciates (sadhus) who seem to be living to enjoy these foods.

Dadashri: Yes. This is due to the changes that have come out in this era of the time cycle, Kaliyug. It used to be the rule in the past that monks had to eat to live.

Questioner: Rebirth (punarjanma).

Dadashri: Is death not the end, the final station?

Questioner: Death is the end of the recurrent cycles of births and deaths for 8,400,000 times.

Dadashri: So liberation should bring an end to this too, right ?

Questioner: Yes. Dadashri: What should we liberate ourselves from?

Questioner: When we enter within ourselves, when we come to know the soul, then?

Dadashri: No, but what do you need to be liberated from?

Questioner: To prevent recurrent births.

Dadashri: Now, who are you really?

Questioner: I am just one wandering soul.

Dadashri: Wandering‌! Aren't you here ?

Questioner: Even as I am sitting here, I am wandering.

What is the goal in this cycle of life after life?

Dadashri: Good answer. Is this not what the Enlightened Ones (vitarags) used to say?

Your answer is correct.

Do you have a goal ? Is there some meaning in this life of yours?

Attainment of the love of the Lord

Questioner: It has not been fixed yet.

Dadashri: You know that a human being is born, then he becomes a young child, then an adult and then what happens?

Questioner: Then old age.

Dadashri: What next?

Questioner: Death.

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Questioner: So then how can one attain the absolutely pure and complete love of the Lord?

Dadashri: Do you want to attain the love of the Lord?

Questioner: Yes. Isn't that the ultimate seeking of every human being ?

Dadashri: Everyone wants to love the February 2006

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Lord, but they will only do so if they can receive the sweetness of that love, right ? Show me if you have felt this sweetness of the love of Lord anywhere.

Questioner: Yes, Dada, even at the last moment of his life one does not take the name of the Lord.

Dadashri: How can he take the name of the Lord? He can only take the name of that in which he is interested (ruchi). His mind delves and plays (ramanata) where he has the interest.

He has no interest in the Lord and therefore his mind does not play in the Lord, does not remember Him. He remembers the Lord only when he is faced with fear.

Questioner: The interest in the Lord may be there, but because of the creation of veils of karma one may not be able to take the name of the Lord.

Dadashri: How is one going to take the name of the Lord without love for Him? Shouldn't love for the Lord arise ? And what is to be gained from loving the Lord so much? I mean, if you eat a mango and you find it sweet, then only you will love it. What if it is bitter?

So, where have you found the Lord to be so sweet, that you will love him? Tell me.

It is like this, the Lord resides in every living being as the life force (chetan). This life force, energy is not in the awareness (laksha) of the world. The world considers that which is not living (not chetan, the non-Self, Chandubhai, the formed complex of thoughts, speech and actions, nischetan chetan) as living (chetan).

This body is taken as the real whereas it is relative, not real. That which is real is not in one’s awareness at all. One has not awakened to the presence of the real (the Self) at all.

That pure Self is the real chetan and the Lord within (paramatma). When will one remember That? Only when one gets some benefit from Him, then the love for Him, the Lord begins.

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We remember the one whom we love and then we take his name. So when we meet someone who brings forth love within us, then we will remember him. Do you remember ‘Dada’?

Questioner: Yes. Dadashri: He loves you, that is why you remember Him. Now why did the love arise?

This is because ‘Dada’ has given you bliss and that is why love has arisen. Once this love arises, it is impossible to forget. Then one does not have to remember it. It is spontaneous.

So when will the Lord come to you in your memory? When He has given you something, graced you, and given you bliss. A man once told me, ‘I am unhappy without my wife.’ I asked him why, what happens if she is gone? He said that he would die. I asked why again. He then said that his wife gave him a lot of happiness. What would happen if she was hurting him instead of giving him happiness?

He would still remember her later. So attachment (raag) as well as abhorrence (dwesh) results in one continuing to remember.

The seeking for the love of the Lord happens in two manners, indirect (paroksha) and direct (pratyaksh). Seek the Lord’s love indirectly if you cannot find him directly. In India the goal of all should be in the Lord only.

How will one know the real nature of the goal?

Questioner: In the path of devotion (bhakti), do the worldly problems represent a barrier?

Dadashri: There are two types of devotion. One is indirect devotion (paroksha bhakti) and it yields worldly fruits and gradually leads one higher spiritually. The second is direct devotion (pratyaksh bhakti), direct devotion of where the Lord has manifest and here the work is accomplished, and the goal attained. There are lots of barriers in indirect bhakti. One’s 5

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own thoughts become a barrier. The path of devotion (bhakti) for liberation is good, but it is such that it may disappear if the circumstances are to change, where as the path of knowledge does not abandon you.

Questioner: Who becomes responsible in the path of devotion? God? Dadashri: Yes. Narsinh Mehta (A great poet and devotee, of Lord Krishna in Gujarat) used to say, ‘O Lord, liberate me from these sufferings!’

All devotees suffer from inner pain (artata).

This was his pain, ‘O Lord liberate me from this suffering.’ Yet his entire endeavor was exclusively devoted to the Lord. Who has the highest devotion for the Lord? The true devotee.

This true devotee is worshipping the indirect Lord (he has not realized the Self yet), the remote Lord. He is not worshipping the real Lord, the Lord within, because he has not realized the Lord within. Yet this devotion is correct, because it will lead to the direct (pratyaksh) Lord within.

But when is one called a true devotee?

When he does not entertain a single doubt whatsoever (sankalp-vikalp) then he is a true devotee. He will say, ‘let the Lord worry. I leave all to him.’ Whereas, here the devotee would say, ‘I got my son married, and I distributed sweets when he was born.’ When the son dies, he says, ‘It is the Lord’s will.’

The real devotee will leave all to the Lord. He will say, ‘why should I worry, Lord, your reputation is at stake.’ Such devotion is very rare to find.

One realizes the relative and the other realizes the real. What is nature of the realization of the devotee? He ‘sees’ the image of Lord Krishna with a flute, within. He has brought such spiritual power (siddhi) from past life. If such a devotee were to meet me, I would tell him, ‘What you have seen is the image (drashya) 6

and you are the ‘seer’ (drashta). The Krishna with the flute that you see is not the real Krishna.

That is the ‘seen’ and the real Krishna is the one who sees that image. And you are that ‘seer’. This vision (the drashti) has fallen on the image (drashya). When this vision falls on the ‘seer’ then the work (the goal, the dhyeya) is accomplished. Even the real devotees have not attained this goal (dhyeya). Even they yearn for this. Once the goal is there, only then can one become That (dhyata, the Self). And to know the real nature of this goal, one needs a guru (a true guru, Gnani).

What has Narsinh Mehta sung?

‘Jeehaa lagii Atma tattva chinhyo nahi; teehaa lagi sadhana sarva joothii.’

‘Until one attains the Self; all seeking is worthless.’

The goal is to attain the Self The doubt exists because of ‘Only you!

Only you!’ (The expression for the Lord that is not yet realized), the separation remains between the devotee and the Lord. Even big devotees are in the wrong place (‘I am Chandulal’, ego exists) this results in easiness- uneasiness (akudata-vyakudata). And if one remains as the Self (swa) the realm of the Self begins (swa-satta) and this is the state beyond easinessuneasiness (nirakudata). The devotees become elevated at pleasant moments and depressed at miserable times. In the eyes of the world, devotees are considered ‘weird, crazy.’ One never knows when they will show this craziness.

When Narsinh Mehta’s wife was on the death-bed, he went to sing devotional hymns at the gathering of the ‘untouchables’ in the village and was engrossed, in singing the entire night.

In the morning someone informed him that his wife had passed away.

So the poet sang, ‘bhaloo thayoon bhangi jhanjhad, sookhey bhajishoo shree Gopal’ meaning, it is good that the shackles of life are February 2006

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now broken, so that now I can freely sing more for the Lord.’

Does one not attend to the worldly duties?

Of course. Here one becomes crazy. The Gnani Purush never shows any deficiency in worldly duties. He performs the ‘drama’ of the worldly duties exactly. The one who performs exactly in drama (of the world) is the Gnani. Whatever circumstance calls for whatever role to be performed in the drama, that is performed exactly by me. When I go to work, all will say, ‘The boss (sheth) is here.’ Here I perform the drama of the boss. When I go to my mother’s birth place (mosar), they say, here comes the ‘bhanabhai’(term of respect and love) and so I play that role. In the train when asked, ‘who are you?’ I reply, ‘I am a passenger.’ In the satsang here, I play the role of the Gnani Purush. In all these roles there is the exact performance of the role. If the train conductor asks for the ticket, can I say I am a Gnani Purush? There, I am indeed a passenger, and if I have lost the ticket I have to tell him that I have lost it, and go ahead and fine me if you want.

The devotees (bhagats) are weird in a way (dhooni). The term ‘dhoon’ comes from ‘dhyani’ (the meditator). To be engrossed in one thing only is to become a ‘dhyani’. The meditator who becomes engrossed in one thing only, becomes a ‘dhyani’ or a ‘dhooni’. One has to become engrossed in one’s Self only.

That is called real dhyan or real meditation.

Here in such a state the meditator (dhyata), the meditation (dhyan) and the object of the meditation (dhyeya) become one.

The exclusive aim of liberation Questioner: Please explain. I want to awaken and attain liberation. That is why I am here.

Dadashri: Life after life one has wished for liberation, but has not really resolved seriously February 2006

for it. When an unflinching inner resolve is established to spend all the merit karma effects in attaining it (niyanu), one meets a Gnani Purush and attains Gnan. The nature of a niyanu is such that all your merit karmas are spent for it only, and nothing else. For you all, much of the merit karma (punya) has been spent for these nice homes, for the body, for cars, wife, children etc. I on the other hand have had only the niyanu for moksha, and that is why I have all this. I never have any obstructions. Niyanu means to have an exclusive goal only, and there is no desire for anything else. Niyanu should be for moksha only. The goal should be for the pure Self and the niyanu should be for moksha (final liberation) only. Now you have to get on with it with firm determination and resolve and concentrate all your energies on that niyanu.

Have only this niyanu so your liberation is hastened and you become free in one or two lives. This world is full of entanglements.

Should money be the goal of life ?

I asked people why they were running after money so much. Why make money the goal of life? Money comes on the basis of merit karma (Punya). They ask, ‘is it not coming because of intellect?’ I replied, ‘If that was the case go see how these intellectuals are running around with hardly any shoes to wear while their dumb bosses are swimming in money.’

These intellectuals will give you all kinds of advice, but they themselves are poor. Those who are simple at heart and do not hurt others with their intellect have money. This money comes to them from their merit karma.

Questioner: With money comes food and comforts.

Dadashri: Yes, it does not come from God, and therefore people have lost their love for God. He has no faith in God. He does not know God at all. He loves what he sees. The world loves money, does it not?

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The goal is lost and one becomes a beggar

how can there be any beggary?

This beggary does not leave. The beggary for respect, the beggary for fame, the beggary for sex pleasure, the beggary for money….beggary, beggary, beggary! Have you ever seen anyone without beggary ? Finally one even becomes a beggar for building temples, and then gets involved in building them. This is because, not finding anything to occupy himself, one starts building temples for fame! Wait a minute, why are you building temples? Is there a scarcity of temples in India? But here this person starts collecting money for building temples. The Lord (Mahavira) has said that the constructor of the temple will build a temple if that is in his karma. Why are you getting involved in this?!

And these worldly people are hungry for fame and respect. If I ask them, ‘do you know how much beggary you have within you? Are you aware of it? Are you begging for anything within?’ The reply would be, ‘no, no beggary of any kind. I do not want anything.’ Oh ho ho!

If we insult him, we can know instantly how much beggary for respect (maan) he has within him.

The religion for human beings in India is not simply for building temples only. Birth in India is exclusively for liberation. Do all your work with the goal of attaining liberation in one more life time. If this is the goal, it will be attained in 50, 100 or 500 life times to come.

Let go of all other goals. Thereafter, be free to marry, have children, become a doctor or whatever, build a bungalow, or whatever you wish. Stick to this one goal, that having taken birth in India, I want to attain liberation and proceed in that direction. This will lead to your liberation.

One must not have any kind of beggary.

To make pledges or donations, to enter into such ventures which encourage them, is to be avoided. In the goal of liberation there is no doership; doing, getting done or instigating such doership from others. I am free from all kinds of beggary. There is no desire to build any temple. This is because I do not need anything from this world. I am not a beggar for respect, I am not a beggar for fame, I am not a beggar for money, I am not a beggar for gold, I am not a beggar for disciples. Not a single thought of sexual nature comes to mind, not a thought of money. When not even a single thought arises, 8

He may have overcome his hunger for sex and money. But the hunger for fame and other things may be there. He will be hungry to have followers and disciples, hungry for recognition and fame. There is endless beggary.

The beggary for a disciple is there. The scriptures say, ‘the one who comes to you naturally, without seeking, is your disciple.’

Now change your goal One has done this very thing life after life. One has come to the conclusion that this greed is the vehicle that maintains my peace.

This greed hurts the owner severely, sometimes.

Once the Self is attained, greed gradually begins to leave. Until the realization of the Self, greed was last station. Now the last station is the Self. The worldly activities now change.

Giving up expectations let the events unfold Questioner: If one has taken up the goal of spending his life for the salvation of the world, what is the necessity of taking care of his parents?

Dadashri: Say if a young man who is helping his father in the grocery shop says, ‘I want to become a doctor.’ The father refuses and tells him to help him in the shop. Now the unfolding karma of the son is such that he may end up being a doctor and the father here is insisting upon a different course. In this scenario, we should observe what is happening within the young man, observe his desires and February 2006

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know that it is the unfolding karma that is speaking out. Coming events cast their shadows before. The father should understand this. If he does not understand, then there will be conflicts.

No one can stop the unfolding of karma. King Dashrath had no desire to send off his son Ramchandraji to the forest for 14 years. He had no choice before the karma.

Questioner: But, Lord Rama’s love and respect for his parents was extraordinary.

Dadashri: Yes, but even then no one could do anything against the unfolding karma.

Questioner: He had no intent to hurt his parents at all.

Dadashri: And the father too had no such desire to hurt his son. One has to accept the unfolding karma. Coming events cast their shadows before.

Therefore, if he is going to graduate and he gets the same thoughts again and again of becoming a doctor, and if we ask him if wants to become a lawyer, he will say no, and affirm his desire to become a doctor. Then we should know that this is the result of past life's causes.

And therefore the father should stop insisting that he stay in the grocery shop.

karma of the girl however, is different and will indeed make her a nun.

Now that acquaintance of ours in this satsang brought his daughter here two to three times to prevent her from becoming a nun. Even after satsang with me the girl said, ‘I want to renounce (take diksha), and even though I have received Dada’s Gnan, I still want to become a nun.’ So her unfolding karmas are of that kind. Nothing happens beyond the karma.

Questioner: In worldly life interactions, especially for those who have given up the world, one’s conduct must be beyond accusation of any kind. The goal of living for the welfare of the world is a very lofty goal. In doing this one must be very careful not hurt any living being. Dadashri’s conduct with the world is an ideal example, whereby nobody can find any fault in Dada's interaction.

Dadashri: Yes, the conduct must be of the highest order. That is why it is written that such a One’s speech, conduct and humility wins the mind of all.

Questioner: Yes, one can only proceed after winning the other with love.

Dadashri: Yes, with love.

Dadashri: No. They should try to see the coming events. Otherwise if they make him sit in the grocery store no one will benefit.

Questioner: One should proceed by gaining the confidence of the other in this matter of renouncing worldly life (becoming a nun).

She has to convince her parents that she really is not interested in the worldly life, and therefore let her go with love. Does she not have to do this much?

Now amongst you Jains, it does happen sometimes that a young 18 year old girl from a very rich family has no desire for worldly life and wants to become a nun (sadhvi). The father will plead in all manners possible and try to make her understand that such a life is very rigorous and tough and why invite unnecessary suffering. He says this with love. The unfolding

Dadashri: There is no point in going away after a disagreement with the parents in this matter. The parents will be hurt with this approach. There is a difference between breaking the link and letting go of the link after opening it. One cannot break a link (parentdaughter bond). Under no circumstances should the link be broken.

Questioner: So the parents should try to understand what line of career the son should proceed with?

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Questioner: It is agreed that the goal of all these persons (the renouncers) is very lofty indeed. It involves a tremendous personal sacrifice. Yet the duty towards the parents has to be considered.

Dadashri: Yes. To break the link by pulling away in this manner is not right; it will hurt the other side. One must be careful not to hurt the parents. And the parents will never hurt the daughter. They have her welfare at heart.

And the parents on the other hand should see what the coming events are like. Should they not? If we keep on hankering on this issue what are we going to gain? It will only invite rebellion on the part of the other. To make the son or daughter rebel is our own fault.

The parents of the prospective boy who wants to give up worldly life should show him a very attractive young lady so that even if he is saying that he does not want to marry, he will end up marrying her. All these renunciates (monks etc) will end up becoming house holders in their future lives. One to four lives as a renunciate with ochre clothes and then right back where they were, with a wife. All this is their net experience speaking. This is what they have done life after life. So these young people who are on the verge of renouncing are also speaking how they feel now.

The ego deviates from the Goal Questioner: This ego (ahamkar), what is it?

Dadashri: The ego is not a thing.

Someone says, ‘you are Chandubhai’ and you believe, ‘I am Chandubhai.’ That is ego!

Questioner: When it gets hurt, then one loses all sense of what is right and wrong.

Dadashri: The ego is always without eyes, it is blind.

Questioner: So of all the others (within; 10

mind, intellect, chit and ego) is it the highest?

Dadashri: Yes. He is the leader.

Everything works under his leadership Questioner: So what adjustment should I take then?

Dadashri: What adjustment is necessary? ‘You’ (the awakened Self) have to ‘see’ how blind ‘he’ (ego) is! That is the adjustment.

Ego is not a thing. Whatever you believe, ‘I am this’, is all ego. And ‘I am pure Self’, is the egoless state (nirahankar). ‘I am a Patel’, ‘I am 50 years old’, ‘I am a collector’, ‘I am a lawyer’, whatever is spoken is all ego.

Questioner: That which prompts one to do good, is that also ego?

Dadashri: Yes, that too is ego. That which prompts one to do wrong is also ego.

One can never tell when the ego will move from the right to the wrong acts, because it is blind.

If the person to whom you are giving some charity curses you, you will run to hit him. This is because of the ego that is hurt.

Questioner: When a soldier says that he is fighting for India, is that also ego?

Dadashri: Yes, it is all ego. This ego does not help in the final analysis. He binds some merit karma. One can never tell when the ego that is doing good will turn to doing bad. Today he may be fighting for India, and tomorrow he may fight with his captain. There is no certainty. The ego is absolutely unreliable and useless (naffat), one can never tell when it will upset everything. The ego is without any aim. When the ego is used for the right goal with persistence it brings worldly success and fame.

Questioner: The ego is necessary for progress, isn't it ?

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Dadashri: That ego exists naturally. One does not need to invite it. It simply gets in.

Questioner: Traditional psychological texts say that the ego is necessary for proper development of personality. Is that so?

Dadashri: That exists naturally. It is the law of nature that the ego arises for proper development and one grows. Once this development reaches its peak, life after life, then one gets birth in India. Thereafter there is no much need for development. After attaining the path of liberation, there is no need to play with the craziness and quirks of the ego.

Otherwise no matter how wise a person is or how charitable he is, the worries and externally induced sufferings and stresses continue when he arrives home. The inner fire (antardah) burns all day long.

The goal worth deciding in life There is no reason to be worried about being cheated here. (Around the Gnani). If he comes here after being cheated by the world then it is ideal. But he does not know the result of letting go, getting cheated deliberately by others. Does anyone realize that it is very valuable to get cheated deliberately?

Questioner: The people would not know this.

Dadashri: I had learnt the system of allowing others to cheat me from a very young age. My mother Zaverba had taught me this.

She would get cheated deliberately and thus give satisfaction to others. I had liked it very much that she gave satisfaction to others. And after all what is one going to lose by being cheated? What capital is one going to lose?

Questioner: I still do not have the courage to let others cheat and take advantage of me, deliberately.

Dadashri: The courage to be cheated?

It does not take me long at all. I would February 2006

immediately understand that this man has come to me with the intention to cheat. So I would let him cheat me. It is difficult to get such a customer. How will you find such a client again?

See, you still lack the courage.

Questioner: What happens in my business is that a certain person is charging me 1000 rupees more than the market price, and I am aware of this. I lack the courage to give him more than the market price. So I end up haggling with him and saying that, ‘this price can never be.’ Dadashri: This deliberate action of allowing the other to cheat, with understanding, is an exception. Such exception is rare. Most people, who allow others to cheat them deliberately, do so out of shame, or some other inner motive. No one has such an aim in life, to allow others to cheat them deliberately. For me, this was a goal in life.

Be sincere in the intent to repay the debts Questioner: I have sustained heavy losses in my business. What should I do? Should I close this business and start a different one?

I have a very large debt.

Dadashri: The losses sustained in the stock market can not be repaid from the income from a small grocery store. The loss in a business can be recouped from the business only, not from a job.

What is worldly rule in this regard? The losses sustained in the stock market can not be recouped from a grocery store. Ensure that you repay it from the stock market business only. This happens when one plays the market with inadequate capital. Then he sustains losses and tries to make up by starting a grocery business. He initially sells by weighing on scales exactly and later adulterates the food and sells.

You remain the loser. Hey, you can not do this.

You are swimming in violence (himsa) and demerit (paap) karma. Return to the stock 11

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market, make friends again and recoup your losses. Do not move away from the location of your losses. Stick with what you know best, the experience of your business.

This inference was something I had arrived at a young age. The losses sustained in certain types of trading can not be repaid by doing a different type of trade. Many people do not understand this. If he has sustained losses in the business of contracting, he cannot start a corner betel nut and cigarette shop to recoup the loss. Hey! You will never make it. The losses can only be made up by doing the contract business. If you persist, people will walk away with your tools with which you serve the betel leaf with condiments (paan). Even if you have no money, go back to the old place of business and stand there. On that particular day, make sure you dress well and smile. Your business will resume as you make some contacts and friends. And friends you will make for sure, and thus your business will thrive.

You have to determine that you want to avoid all cheating in business, forever. Also your intent should be to repay all your debts, sooner or later, in this very lifetime.

So the rule is that in whichever market you have lost and sustained the wound, it is the very market where the wound heals. The medicine to heal the wound exists in the same location where the injury occured. Where you have committed the fault, you should settle the account there itself, and not anywhere else.

The intellect (buddhi) is the one that entraps you further in this regard.

For moksha the Lord has not given any importance to wealth. So one should have only the deep inner intent (bhaav), that no living being should be hurt to the slightest extent, and secondly no one’s money should remain with th us. This is because money is the 11 life-breath (pran, without which one cannot live) of a 12

human being. Man has 10 life-breaths. Money th has been called the 11 life-breath. Therefore it is critical to return the money that belongs to others. If our money is with others, that is fine.

We must have the deep honest intention of paying off all debts, ‘I want to return every penny,’ is the goal that should be there continuously. Thereafter, go play fearlessly in the business, keeping this goal in mind. But do not become the ‘player’ (kheladi). ‘Play’ (do the business), but do not become the ‘player’ (deeply involved). If you become deeply involved, you will be in trouble. Therefore, do you agree that there are some laws in the world of business? All businesses have a beginning and an end. Everything has a beginning and an end.

Whether there are innumerable mosquitoes or a couple of them, your sleep is going to be disturbed the whole night. So you have to say, ‘Oh world of mosquitoes, these 2 have taken away my sleep, then why don’t you all come?’ This profit and loss are nothing but mosquitoes only. The mosquitoes will keep coming. You have to swipe them away as you finish your sleep.

The thoughts are just to be seen Questioner: Thoughts are coming, and what if they are pleasant?

Dadashri: If he (Chandubhai) likes them, there is no problem. Who finds them pleasant, the relative finds them pleasant or the real?

Questioner: The relative (Chandubhai) likes them.

Dadashri: Such relative stock (of raag, attachment) that has been filled in higher amounts in the past life is the reason why one finds them pleasant. It all depends on the stock.

It does not harm the goal. However, it does affect your awareness when you say, ‘this is happening to me.’ We are to focus on the awareness, that this is happening to Chandubhai, February 2006

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that Chandubhai is getting many thoughts. You (the awakened Self) have no concern with it (the mind and thoughts). There is a large stock so it will take longer to empty. What if the stock of thick tar comes out when a large tank is about to empty? If there is more tar content, more tar (unpleasant) will come out. For someone else, who has filled scent, the material with scent (pleasant) come out in this life.

Ultimately, both the tanks are going to empty, right ? Both tanks are the same once they are empty, right?

Questioner: Yes, it is the same.

Dadashri: Or is there a difference?

Questioner: It is the same.

Dadashri: Yes, the discharge with the scent will be pleasant to the nose, whereas the tar will be unpleasant. But both are to the nose and for Chandulal only, do you understand?

The thought, ‘I do not want to go to the shop today,’ is the object to be known (gneya) and You (the awakened Self) have nothing to do with it. ‘Why am I having such thoughts?’ should not happen anymore. This is because You are not and never were the owner of these thoughts. And now You have come to know them as they are. Therefore You are now free.

Dadashri: Yes, the courage is needed.

This is not mine. This is of the relative complex of thoughts, speech and acts (pudgal). Worries and fear will not come. Liberation setting right here Just see!!

The firmness to attain the goal Do not harbour any opinions. Do what all are doing in the satsang. Otherwise it is called action guided by the intellect and ego (swachhand). It is better to ask me, ‘what should I do, if this happens?’ I will make you understand and guide you.

Tell the mind, ‘this will not do. I want to walk the path of my decided goal. You have not behaved so far, but now your craziness will not work.’

You have the goal to become the abode of infinite bliss.

Do you have the desire to finish your goal? If you want to attain your goal, then make the necessary changes. Then only will you reach. Otherwise not.

The mind will rest only with Gnan Only when the Gnan arises, the mind behaves. Otherwise will the mind behave?

Questioner: No, it will not listen.

For us now, whether these thoughts are good or bad, both have been surrendered. You are not concerned with them. What thought can't arise? Slight uneasiness in the body will lead to a thought, ‘what if I die?’ Surrender all these thoughts.

Dadashri: Otherwise, it will lift you and throw you off. Does your mind listen to you?

If you do not get caught up in the storm of the mind, Your work will be done. The mind is an object to be seen (gneya vastu). The thoughts may come, sometimes even like a hurricane. Would you be one within that hurricane?

Dadashri: No, the thoughts will come.

They may arise at any time.

Questioner: But by that moment, I would immediately say, ‘not mine.’

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Questioner: Now it has straightened up.

If I remain separate from the mind, then this thought will not arise, right ?

Questioner: Even if I remain separate from them?

Dadashri: Even when you are absolutely separate, the thoughts will come. It is the stock that was filled in the past life. It is effective. It will not remain without giving an effect.

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If it (the non-Self, especially addressing the mind that wants to sleep) is overcome with sleepiness at night, then raise its awareness by pinching it and saying, ‘sit up, you have slept so many days!’

And it is not as if, it will not agree. It will agree. You have no major quarrel with the mind, right? You are not asking it to renounce anything, nor are you putting it through any rigorous disciplines. If you do, it will be in a bad mood, and become very upset with you. It will bite you even before you say anything. So if you pinch it under those circumstances it will bite you. Here on the other hand the mind is calm and responsive. What is a teased dog like? It will bite you. The mind is also like that. If it has been made to sacrifice this and sacrifice that, it becomes very exasperated.

The mind is like a canoe. It is not anything wrong. You need to know what the mind needs to do. You need to decide on the one goal, ‘I need to follow this path.’ If the mind is on that path, follow it. If it leads you away from the goal, then beat it back to the right path. You need to ‘see’, where you are going, your goal.

You have to decide your goal.

Lead the canoe of the mind to the goal The mind is very necessary. The mind is the connecting link to the world, and through it only can one attain liberation. As long as it is necessary the mind keeps you in worldly interactions, and when your worldly needs are concluded, it is the mind that leads you to moksha, liberation. It is the canoe in the ocean of this world. When you are ready for liberation, it takes you to the shore of liberation. After you have come to the shore, you are to let go of it. Bid it farewell. After alighting on the shore, say, ‘Jai Sat Chit Anand! You and I are now separate.’ You are not to oppose the mind.

The mind is one of the finest things. The mind is in its own religion (nature, dharma) and qualities.

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The mind is doing its own duty. Why are you beating the poor thing? It is a canoe. It is the canoe that will take you to moksha. It can also take you in the wrong direction. It can also get you lost in this ocean of the world. You need to know how to steer it. When will the canoe take you to moksha? When you find the ‘giver’ of moksha. If you seek a Gnani (liberator) then the canoe will take you towards him. It will not spontaneously go there, because it does not have the steering compass. It has lost the sense of direction; therefore it cannot find the shore.

So do not try to remove the mind. The mind is the canoe that will either liberate or take you round and round in this world. You need to decide where you want to go. And you need to place a compass. Now with the aid of the compass and the northern star, you can reach the shore of liberation.

Have you placed a compass in your canoe?

Questioner: No. Dadashri: So then you are steering this canoe in this vast ocean of the worldly life without a compass! Should you not have a compass which shows the Northern direction?

This mind is not bothering you. Why are you being bothered and suffering unnecessarily? Why are you unjustly punishing the mind? Everyone punishes and harasses the mind. The mind is not that way.

Now look, how was your mind? Was it filled with objections?

Questioner: Yes. Dadashri: And now, is it rebellious at all? Remember how much it used to rebel?

The mind is a necessary thing. One needs to turn the energies of the mind in the right direction. Once this direction is corrected, it will move with speed.

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I change the direction of your mind for you. Your compass needle was pointing in the direction of the worldly view (lok sangnya).

You were moving in direction of the understanding of the worldly people (ignorance of the Self). What the world had considered as happiness, you also believed the same. And once the compass needle pointed in the direction of the Gnani (the enlightened world view, gnani sangnya), then your work is done. So I change your vision.

was giving a lot of suffering.

Questioner: Our goal (dhyeya) has to be decided.

People try to kill their mind. Why are they beating it uselessly? Who is at fault? The fault is of the owner of the mind and the mind gets punished. This is a very grave danger.

Such errors bring their dangerous results.

Dadashri: Yes. Such a mind is necessary. Only with the mind one can attain liberation. The mind is a ‘fishing boat’ (machhvo). It is not worth damaging it.

Through yoga the one who has fractured the mind will not attain liberation. The mind is the instrument for liberation. One should let the mind blossom. One has nurtured it so far.

So let the mind be, till the end. Keep it with you no matter how much it troubles you.

When you have reached the shore, after this change of vision, you will not need the mind anymore. Then you can do what you wish with the canoe of the mind.

Questioner: When will the shore come for us? It will come only in the end. So then the mind will be with us all along till the end?

Dadashri: Yes. But for you, the shore has already arrived with this Gnan. So You simply have to keep ‘seeing’ what this canoe is doing. You have reached the shore. You have even climbed onto the shore. Now what is the use of breaking the canoe? If it is banging on the shore and moving here and there, let it be. After this Gnan, the mind is not bothering at all. It was the living mind (before Gnan) that was bothering you. This is the dying mind. It is the discharge mind (mun).

It has become lifeless. That other living mind February 2006

So this Gnan is effective and it is 100 % effective. Have you realized this now?

Questioner: Yes. Dadashri: You have recognized this 100%, right ? You were worried where you had alighted on the shore, but after standing up on the shore (realization) you will be amazed at the phenomenal change for the positive that has happened. It is so much better than before.

The circumstances after awakening Questioner: If I want to go to see the cinema I go there very readily, but to come to this satsang there is some hesitation.

Dadashri: What is the reason behind it?

Questioner: It is part of my destiny?

Dadashri: The mind is supporting going to the cinema. Then it (the non-Self) slips and falls down spiritually. This is liked by it (the mind). It does not help, and continues to slip.

To arise and go up, according to the goal requires effort. To go down, there is no effort needed. It slips, on its own. Have you been ‘slipped’ (by the mind), ever?

Questioner: I could not come here, because of the circumstances, right ?

Dadashri: But, on whom are the circumstances dependent? By blaming the circumstance, you are escaping. Yes, there is 100 % truth in what you say. What do the circumstances depend on?

Questioner: On our karma.

Dadashri: So then, what is the karma dependant on?

Questioner: I do not know, kindly explain.

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Dadashri: In this present state, what are you in reality? You are not this named form (naam roopi). You are not this complex that is interacting with the world (vyavahar roopi). So then, really, who are you? Then the answer is, that you are the ‘account’ of your Gnan and your agnan. The circumstances come in front of You, according to Your Gnan, and the circumstances come in front of you, according to your agnan. The circumstances arise depending on awareness (Gnan) or ignorance (agnan).

Questioner: And so then, the karma is formed according to the gnan-agnan (knowledge-ignorance)?

Dadashri: Yes, the karma is created depending on that, and as a result of that, circumstances arise. A spiritually developed human being will bind merit karmas. This is because his gnan is of a higher level. A person with no spirituality will bind demerit karma. So the karma is caused by the account of gnan and agnan. The question then arises, is this all under his control? The answer is, no, this ‘entity’ is the net sum of the gnan-agnan, it is not a name, it is not the ego, ‘this’ is it (the account of gnan-agnan).

Questioner: Dada, what do you mean by ‘this’ entity?

Dadashri: The knowledge or ignorance, is ‘this’, and that is ‘its’ spiritual stock (upadaan), but because this is a difficult concept to grasp, we have accepted a representative term, ego (ahamkar). This is a very subtle point. Even the saints are unaware of it. The Gnanis of the traditional kramik path also do not know this.

Questioner: Yes, this concept is not easy to understand.

Dadashri: Yes, it is difficult.

Questioner: Until now Dada, we used to say that the ego is the doer.

Dadashri: This subtle point has come 16

forth in this satsang because of this gentleman, who asked the question, otherwise how will it arise? It is worth understanding this very subtle point.

So the karma is due to the knowledgeignorance stock. You may call this the stock of spiritual development (upadaan) or ego (ahamkar). That is ‘it’. But in fact, the ego is a separate issue. The ego is ‘seen’ as a separate entity. Whatever is happening within the gnanagnan, light and darkness, the ego is indeed dependent on it.

Questioner: Yes. The gnan is present, the agnan is present and the ego is absent, then what happens? Then no karma is created, right ?

Dadashri: The ego is present. Where ever there is gnan and agnan the ego will be there, for sure.

Questioner: Is the ego there because agnan (ignorance) is there?

Dadashri: Yes, absolutely. When the ignorance leaves, the ego leaves. Until then the gnan and agnan; knowledge and ignorance will be together. This is called ‘kshayopaksham’.

Questioner: So then after receiving and attaining Gnan, one becomes a Purush (the Self), then where does the Purush come in this? In which portion?

Dadashri: The Gnan is the Purush. How can there be a portion here? The agnan (ignorance) is the prakruti. The combined form of gnan and agnan is prakruti. Gnan is Purush and is the Supreme Lord (paramatma). Gnan is the Atma. The Gnan, which is vignanswaroop (which liberates when attained), is the Self, is the Supreme Lord.

The karma that obstructs the meeting with a Gnani Purush When one goes to the vegetable market in the morning everyone gets some or the other vegetables, right ? Some get fresh ones, some February 2006

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not so fresh. This is because there are no obstructions (antaraya) for these items. If one has gone to get some wheat there may be some obstructions, and if he has gone to get diamonds and gold, would there be obstructions? Without wealth how can one purchase diamonds? So these diamonds represent a lot of obstructions.

Here (in the satsang with the Gnani) even 10 people are a lot. There are unlimited obstructions for one to come here. This is the highest thing in spirituality. How can all have the necessary merit karma to come here? If it was vegetables there would be crowds in the market. And how many people do you see in a jeweler’s shop?

Questioner: Very few.

is going to go away! This path to liberation arises very rarely and yet, there are so many types of obstructions. What is happening is correct. Look, he was going to attain it directly, and yet he left. It is correct, isn't it ? It is not incorrect, right ? I would immediately understand this correctness. This is the rising of the obstructive karma. At first, I thought, ‘why this obstruction?’ And as long as the gentleman is sitting, I cannot begin the Gnan Vidhi can I? If he had requested, ‘I want this Gnan, please give it to me, I want moksha,’ then I would have given. The one who desires bondage can not be given the knowledge of liberation, right?

Questioner: The deep inner feeling of surrender should arise, right?

Dadashri: There are many obstructive karma. How many millionaires are there in India? And how many poor people are there?

It is filled with poor people, isn't it ? In the same manner, ‘this’ (Vignan) is not for all. Our purpose is simply to inform all, and be done with it. We should express our inner intent (bhaavna).

Dadashri: That is called obstructing karma. The meeting with this Gnani Purush will not happen. When one’s merit karma of infinite lives arises, then one meets Dada (Gnani Purush). Now just imagine, the Gnani (liberator) is ready, all around are warning him (the person who has just left without Gnan)! He will find those others many times, but not the Gnani.

There are many obstructions before attaining Gnan. Very formidable obstructions exist. These are very difficult to break. The obstructions for money, profit, charity will break but the obstruction for Gnan (gnanantaraya) and Vision (darshanantaraya) are extremely difficult to break.

Questioner: Even after infinite lives, the Gnani is rare to meet.

That is why one does not arrive here. If he does, he will benefit. The true seeker will get it. The real customer will come and be here from far corners of the earth. Therefore, do not be in a rush to push this. There will not be huge crowds for this.

What is the reason behind that man leaving this satsang? I even tell the ones here, that he is trying so hard to rise spiritually, and has made so many efforts on his own to come to a spiritual solution, and now that is here, he February 2006

Dadashri: Even after a million years, Akram Vignan is rare to come across. This Dada is here with indestructible faith. A single word of mine, spoken, will become that within you. And if you say, ‘this is what Dada is saying day in and day out! And he is after all a Dada of the home (family or acquaintance) only,’ then you will incur a major loss.

Some have their remote, indirect (paroksha) obstructions broken for meeting the Gnani. Some have their direct (pratyaksha) obstructions broken. Those who have had their indirect obstructions broken are still with their direct obstructions, and therefore they only meet indirectly. The obstructions for the direct meeting exist in very large amounts. I ‘saw’ that (with 17

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reference to the gentleman who left without meeting ‘me’), very formidable and huge obstructions exist. His effort goes to waste and our effort also goes to waste. You will get tired of writing letters of invitation (to meet The Gnani Purush).

Questioner: Why did so many obstructions arise in meeting with you Dada?

This is because I have known about you for a long time.

Dadashri: Everyone has an obstruction.

The one ‘who knows’ (janakar, the one who says, ‘I know’) has obstructions. The one who does not know anything has no obstruction. Even if you say, ‘he is this way, he is that way,’ then obstructions occur. If you repeat what you have heard, then also obstruction is created. There is the obstruction of ‘I know’. There is no obstruction with, ‘I don't know’.

It may be true or not, but if 5 people start criticizing someone, one will also join in.

Here one misses the sole aim or discipline of never saying anything negative about anyone.

Therefore countless such obstructions exist.

For the one who has a firm resolve (nischaya), the obstructions break. These are now broken. One man tells me, ‘I have wanted to meet you for 6 years and only now am I am able to meet you.’ How many obstructions?

Tell me. And those living in foreign countries, all they have to do is to remember me once and they meet me. (No obstructing karma).

Who is more valuable, the wise one or the over wise one?

Questioner: The wise one is more valuable. The over wise one spoils and hurts his own self. The day I received the Gnan, I felt that I met the pratyaksh Gnani.

Dadashri: Yes, the direct (pratyaksh) Gnani, and God (bhagwan) also. The Supreme Lord directly. This has been addressed by Krupaludev (Srimad Rajchandra) as the 18

Supreme Lord in human form.

Only one goal - Moksha If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Do you want moksha ? Then ask all questions that pertain to moksha. When the mind gets satisfied and settle, then only one can attain liberation, if not, how will it happen? There are many scriptures of the Lord, but one should have their precise understanding. That understanding is impossible without The Gnani Purush who has the experience. Any other understanding will lead you on the wrong path.

Questioner: With what awareness should one chant the Navkar ( Namokar) Mantra?

Dadashri: One should do that with the aim and goal of moksha only. If you recite them with the aim of worldly happiness, then you will get only that and not moksha. The Navkar Mantra is helpful on the path towards liberation. The Navkar Mantra is from the relative (vyavahar) perspective, not from the real (nischaya).

Why should one recite the Navkar Mantra? The Panch Parameshti Bhagwants (the five categories of enlightened beings in the universe) are indeed the means (sadhan) by which one can attain moksha. Make this your goal (dhyeya). Revere and worship only these beings. Stick to them, sit around them, do not leave them, and when you die, die around them.

Yes, do not die anywhere else. If you have to take anyone’s shelter, take their shelter only. If you take the shelter of anyone else, there is no telling where you will end up. This spiritual level of the Panch Parameshtis excels all other spiritual levels.

Namo Siddhanum Questioner: You say that there is no Bapo (father-boss) up there, but there does exist the Siddhaloka (the location where all fully liberated beings are), isn't it?

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Dadashri: That is the Siddhaloka, also called Siddhakshetra. They are done with this world, and will never return. They are fully liberated, they do not listen to us, nor do they speak, they do not have any feelings for anyone.

They are absorbed in their eternal bliss. They can not help us. They represent our goal. When you say, ‘Namo Siddhanum,’ you are affirming your goal that you want to be like them.

Questioner: When we recite, ‘Namo Siddhanum,’ does that salutation reach them?

Dadashri: If it does not reach them there, it does reach the Siddha within. The One who is sitting within, The Self, is indeed Siddha. Are we not concerned with our goal of liberation?

So all we have to do is to ensure that we send our salutations. Our work is to salute, that, ‘O Lord I am sending this salutation.’

Questioner: Do the Lords who have become siddha (attained nirvana, do not have a body) have any role in helping the salvation of human beings?

Dadashri: The Siddhas represent your goal, but they have no role in helping you in anyway. Here, a Gnani Purush, or a Tirthankar if present, can help you. They can show you your mistakes and place you on the path of liberation. They show you your Self (swaroop).

Questioner: So then are these Siddhas without bodies?

Dadashri: The Siddha Lord does not have a body. He is the Supreme Being (paramatma). The term siddha purush is sometimes used for some human beings. These people will run after you to beat you up if you were to curse them. Or they may shout a curse upon you.

Questioner: What is the difference between an Arihant and a Siddha?

Dadashri: The Siddha does not have the load of a body. The Arihant has to walk and February 2006

bear the weight of the body. They have to finish their remaining residual karmas before they become Siddha.

Vyavahar charitra: Atma charitra Questioner: In life that which remains continuously is called conduct (charitra). In this, with reference to Atmagnan, if the Gnan remains continuously (the state of The Self), is it called conduct of the Self?

Dadashri: There are two types of conduct. One is worldly conduct (vyavahar charitra) and the other is conduct as the Self (Atma charitra). A very elevated man will have a very high level of worldly conduct. His conduct is in accordance with the Agnas of the Tirthankars. All this conduct, is worldly in nature, is of the body complex, and does not imply that the Self has been realized. The Atma charitra is to ‘see’, ‘know’ and be in eternal bliss (drashta, gnata, paramanand). There is no attachment (raag) or abhorrence (dwesh). The worldly conduct, vyavahar charitra means to remain strictly within the Agnas of the Tirthankars.

This external worldly conduct is not considered true worldly conduct. When will it become true worldly conduct? When one enters the path of the Vitarag (fully detached one).

Currently one is stuck up in sectarian differences and opinions (gachha-mut). These people give a lot of importance to renunciation and consider it as true worldly conduct (vyavahar charitra).

True worldly conduct is to follow the path of the Vitarag with sincerity. Such a one will never think of any religion as alien, and will stick exclusively to the religion of the Vitarag as his goal. He accepts the Vitarag and he does not reject anyone else. He has no abhorrence towards anyone or any religion. This is vyavahar charitra.

The Lord has defined vyavahar charitra even further. It is a very high thing. It involves knowing the opinion of the Vitarag. Leaving 19

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aside his opinion, he accepts the opinion of the Vitarag and proceeds in his worldly interactions accordingly. One does whatever is possible, with this firmly in the mind.

And in the One whom the Self has expressed, all energies also express. All the Gnanis, even 500,000 Gnanis will have only one opinion and 3 agnanis will have 100 divisions due to difference of opinions. The Gnanis have no difference of opinions, only the agnanis, the ignorant ones have them. In this large group of our mahatmas, do you see any division due to difference of opinions? The Gnan may vary. The same Gnan has been given to all, and the result expresses depending on the spiritual development. Less or more, but is there any division at all? Is there any stress or pulling or pushing evident here? This is called true worldly conduct. In the real conduct (nischaya charitra, the conduct as the Self) there is no effort needed whatsoever.

Only the worldly conduct calls for any effort.

When the non-Self (deha) becomes wise, it is called true worldly conduct and when the self becomes wise (Self realization in Akram) it is called real charitra, conduct as the Self. In this state, one remains the Self, the knower, seer and in eternal bliss. There is zero interference in anything else. The One who has arrived here becomes God. This conduct as the Self (atma charitra) is fully evident at the time of full enlightenment (Keval Gnan).

What should be renounced The Lord has not said to do this kind of renunciation (tyaag) and penance (tup). He had told to renounce the passion and fascination (moorchha, to lose oneself) for a thing. This is called the renunciation of the temple of knowledge (gnan mandir). What the world considers as renunciation and penance is of the kindergarten level (baal mandir). When one loses his wallet full of money, and is not affected at all, he has lost his fascination for it and therefore 20

it is indeed a true renunciation for him. The wallet’s presence or absence does not affect him. In the kindergarten renunciation the goal is to let go of something, and it brings its results.

That renunciation is done with an expectation.

The one who has walked away from his wife and family expects to be respected by the followers who call him a guru. The real renunciation is to let go of the passion and fascination for a thing. When one renounces the wife and children, it is happening due to other forces and laws (past life karma effect).

The unfolding of the karma effect makes the prakruti renounce something. And yet, behold his fascination for the copper pot which he uses (the worldly monk uses a pot for his daily routines). How can we call the one who becomes angry towards the disciple a renunciate?

One has not found the true path and that is why he is suffering so much. He is not at fault in this. Who is being scolded here? It is the one who is exercising the ego without any understanding. He left the wife and children at home; he left the 3 bells at home to come here (in the mountains) and tied 108 bells around the necks of his ‘disciples.’ That is why I have to scold.

The Lord has said that, the one who lives in a palace and yet is not ‘lost’(has no fascination or passion for it) in it, is the true renunciate. The one who remains unaffected even as his pocket is being picked is the true tyagi. If the Lord had not defined renunciation in this manner, then a worldly person, a house holder would never have attained final liberation (Keval Gnan). The Lord says that one can never renounce things, because there are infinite things.

So how can they be renounced? To look at a thing and to reject it with abhorrence is not renunciation. And amidst infinite things if the passion for them is gone, then it is the same as having renounced them all.

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The one who renounces is doing so through ego (‘I am renouncing’), but only when there is no ego in renouncing or acquiring (tyaag or grahan), when there is no fascination, then that is true renunciation. This is natural (sahaj) renunciation.

The goal of non-violence Questioner: Please elaborate on nonviolence (ahimsa) as it relates to spiritual progress.

Dadashri: Ahimsa is the final definition of religion. It is religion indeed. Ahimsa is spiritual progress. Ahimsa means that through the medium of thoughts, speech and acts, not a single living being should be hurt even to the slightest extent. This is possible when it remains in one’s awareness and faith.

Questioner: Ahimsa is the supreme religion. How can this mantra help one in life?

Dadashri: In the morning, at the time of leaving the home, one should affirm the intent (bhaavna), ‘through these thoughts, speech and acts let no living being be hurt to the slightest extent,’ by saying this 5 times.

Later if anyone is hurt, then one should perform pratikramans.

Questioner: How is it possible to live with this type of ahimsa in these times?

Dadashri: That is why you have to have the intent (bhaav) and to be sincere to that. If you cannot be so, then do the repentance with pratikramans.

Questioner: Is it possible to avoid hurting those who are around us? Is it possible to satisfy them?

Dadashri: The one who has this intent will be able to attain it. If not in this life time, then in a couple of more lives it will be accomplished. Your goal must be decided. Your aim must be that only.

February 2006

Pratikraman Questioner: You have said that in the times of the past 22 Tirthankars, pratikramans were of the ‘shoot on sight’ (performed instantly) type. The people of that time were highly aware. Were they doing pratikramans for happiness or moksha?

Dadashri: Their intent was variable.

Some did them for worldly happiness and others for liberation. The result of the pratikraman was dependent upon the intent.

Questioner: Pratikraman is the path to moksha, so why is there any inclusion of the path of happiness in it too?

Dadashri: What does Pratikraman mean ? If any error has happened today, then one has to ask for forgiveness for the hurt caused.

Then the error is washed. The merit karma is however, created. And one has to return to go through the effect of the merit karma (punya).

Questioner: The same happens in the pratikramans that happen in the path of moksha.

Both are pratikramans.

Dadashri: Everyone’s goal is different.

Everyone’s intent is different.

Questioner:Yes Dada, but pratikraman is for the fault (dosh) done. For any fault done, one does the pratikraman, and once that fault is washed, cleared, one proceeds towards moksha.

Dadashri: No. It is not like that.

Questioner: How is that? Please explain to me that how is it that one pratikraman creates merit karma (punya) and the other……

Dadashri: Our pratikramans here are for moksha only. But these worldly pratikramans are for any worldly faults, and for worldly happiness.

They are used for that intent.

Questioner: Correct. I am trying to understand that there are two types of 21

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pratikramans that you have mentioned. Now in that, the result of one type of pratikraman….

Questioner: This is for liberation and the other?

Dadashri: There are no two types of pratikramans. Pratikraman is always of one type.

Dadashri: There, there is no connection with liberation.

Questioner: Yes, but the goal (dhyeya) in that is of two types. No? One is the goal of moksha….

Questioner: Say one has resolved in the mind that…

Dadashri: Goals are not of two types only. The goals vary with every individual.

Questioner: Now in this there is the goal of worldly happiness only. This means that through pratikraman he attains dharmadhyan (absence of adverse meditation, absence of artadhyan and absence of raudradhyan). He will not attain shukladhyan (the meditation of the Self).

Dadashri: There is absolutely no connection between pratikraman and shukladhyan. There is no shukladhyan in worldly interaction. Here because of Akram Vignan, shukladhyan has arisen. Otherwise one can not even mention the word, ‘shukladhyan.’

Questioner: So then how should I do pratikraman? Say I want to do pratikraman. I want worldly happiness. So with what goal should I do the pratikraman?

Dadashri: No, no. When one does pratikraman, the mistake that has happened within us, is erased.

Questioner: So it has been erased.

Dadashri: So merit karma is bound, right?

Questioner: Yes, so similarly in the path of liberation he will bind merit karma too, right ?

Dadashri: No. Questioner: So then how am I to understand this?

Dadashri: In the path of liberation, one does pratikraman to become liberated.

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Dadashri: No, this person is doing pratikramans as, ‘I am Chandulal, I have made many mistakes, and I am doing pratikramans.’

Questioner: The agnani and the gnani?

Dadashri: Yes. Questioner: Oh! Ah! That differentiation! That fits. If the agnani does the pratikraman he binds merit karma.

Dadashri: Whatever the agnani (the ignorant one) does, he binds either merit or demerit karma. There is nothing else. That is not the path of liberation.

Questioner: Yes. That is right.

The State without conflict is the main goal Every human assures that he keeps what is necessary for his worldly life, and he does so to protect him from any difficulties in the future.

This safe side that one creates varies amongst people. But that is not the goal. That is the safe side on the road of life. So then what is the goal? The goal is to be free from anger, pride, deceit, greed, attachment and abhorrence. This must not happen with anyone under any circumstances. When one receives insults and slaps and yet does not experience any abhorrence towards the person doing it, then it is called the goal. The state of being free from all these weaknesses is the goal. And if weakness remains, then who will agree that you all have met the Lord in human form? If you have met the Lord and weaknesses remain then he is not the Lord.

Jai Sat Chit Anand February 2006

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A Grand Celebration of Rajkot Trimandir Pran Pratistha Mahotsav A grand celebration of non-sectarian Trimandir Pran Pratistha Mahotsav was done from January 04 to January 08, 2006 at Rajkot. This Trimandir is constructed on Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway, located 13 kms away from Rajkot. On this occasion, different activities were scheduled including spiritual retreat, Gnan vidhi and an Alaukik Pran Pratistha for five days. Mahatmas had visited from each and every corner of Gujarat and all around the world in enormous numbers.

Beautiful tents were constructed for accommodation for out of town mahatmas in the court-yard of the temple. Huge tents were built for satsang and meals. During spiritual discourse, all mahatmas and seekers got stunning solutions to their continuous flow of questions. Many people had made firm resolution to become free from their addiction and had asked to do vidhi (special blessings). There were programs scheduled for the singing of devotional hymns to delightful music every night. From beginning till the last moment of Gnan vidhi, uninterrupted flow of mahatmas was stepping in continuously. Mahatmas had become very thrilled and excited seeing almost 11,500 spiritual aspirants attaining Atma Gnan. First time ever in the history of Akram Vignan, this huge numbers of spiritual aspirants had visited to attain Atma Gnan.

Aptaputra Deepakbhai Desai sung a very charming devotional hymn giving invitation for the presence of the deities at the Pratistha on the 8th January at 4.00 a.m. on the day of the Pran Pratistha. The next thing during the ceremony was the ceremonious installation of Shree Simandhar Swami, and all the other idols, which was performed by Pujya Niruma and Deepakbhai. The environment had become divine and heavenly with the prayers and devotional hymns. After this, the flags of all three temple's peaks were unfurled by the auspicious grace of Pujya Niruma, who was carried over by a huge crane. On this auspicious occasion of Pran Pratistha, Pujya Niruma sung very charming devotional hymns composed by herself in the presence of a huge crowd. At the time of listening to these hymns every one had started dancing with full of joy. For each of the idols, prakshal-puja-aarti was performed and Trimandir was left open for the worshippers.

In such a short time, in just one year, the construction of this Trimandir is really a miraculous event! Just by looking at this Trimandir, it is clearly evident that behind this event, day and night co-operation of mahatmas, endless hard work of workers and skilled people, infinite grace of Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan and the deities subtle help was involved. All idols constructed at Jaipur are very fascinating. Just by looking at these idols, one feels tranquility and serenity! Devotional worshippers become astonished for a moment or two by looking at these installed idols at Trimandir located in a peaceful environment away from the city traffic. Hundreds of tourist coming and going for devotional worship forget the sects and religions and are experiencing the message of Dadashri's non-sectarian religion at non-sectarian Trimandir located on national highway.

February 2006

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Gnanvidhi in presence of Pujya Dr. Niruma 26 Feb. 2006, 3-30 to 7 PM - Gnanvidhi (A Scientific Experiment on Self-Realisation)

Venue :

Trimandir, Ahmedabad-Kalol Highway, Dist : Gandhinagar, (Gujarat)

Aaptputra Deepakbhai Desai's USA-UK-Canada Itinerary - 2006 20 March 21-22 March 24-26 March 28 Mar.-2 Apr 3 April 4-5 April 6-7 April

To UK Leicester Birmingham London UK To USA Dallas Orlando

8-9 April 10-11 April 12-13 April 14 April 15-16 April 18-20 April

Tampa, FL Wilmington, NC Atlantic City, NJ New Jersey Allentown, PA Lowell, MA (Celibacy Shibir, only for men)

Contact Persons :

London : Varsha Shah, Leicester : Trusha Nathwani Birmingham : Narendra Parmar Dallas : Narendra Tarapara, Orlando : Dinesh Doshi Tampa, FL : Mukesh Patel Wilmington, NC : Rahul Bhatt Atlantic City, NJ: Bhavesh Gala

Tel : 0208-864-2833 Tel : 0116-220-8081 Tel : 0121-744-2570 Tel : 817-329-4656 Tel : 407-327-2365 Tel : 813-969-1740 Tel : 910-791-5603 Tel : 856-753-4252

21-23 April 24 April 25-26 Apr. 27-28 Apr. 29 Apr-1 May 2 May 4 May

Toronto Chicago Milwaukee San Jose, CA L.A. To London To India

New Jersey : C. C. Shah Tel : 732-968-6836 Allentown, PA : Amita Shah Tel : 610-391-1785 Lowell, MA : Bipin Patel Tel : 978-458-4609 Toronto : Dinesh Patel, Tel : 416-675-3543 Chicago : Himanshu Patel, Tel. : 847-980-5759 Milwaukee : Manohar Ahuja, Tel. : 262-797-8438 Sanjose : Aarti Ajay Shah, Tel : 408-865-1165 LA : Shirish Patel, Tel : 951-734-4715 Deepakbhai's Mobile in USA : 832-771-8204

Wa tc h Pujy a Dr tch Pujya Dr.. Nir uma on T.V .V.. Channels India :

U.K. :

U.S.A. :

Doordarshan (National), Mon-Fri 8-30 AM to 9-00 AM (In Hindi) In Tamilnadu, Mon-Fri 8-30 AM to 9-00 AM (In Tamil) Zee Alpha Gujarati, Everyday 7 AM to 8 AM (In Gujarati) Doordarshan DD-1, Everyday 3-30 PM to 4 PM (In Gujarat, in Gujarati) Watch same prog. at same time, outside Gujarat on Doordarshan DD-11 'MA TV' (Channel 813) National, Mon-Sat 6-30 to 7-30 AM, Sun 6 to 7 AM GMT Zee Gujarati (Channel 839), Everyday 6-30 AM to 7-30 AM (In Gujarati) 'MA TV' (Channel 6) Leicester, Everyday 8 to 9 AM GMT 'TV Asia' Everyday 7 AM to 7-30 AM EST (In Gujarati) 'Aastha' Mon-Fri 4-30 PM to 5 PM East Cost, 1-30 PM to 2 PM West Cost

'TV 39 (NJ)' Mon-Fri 6 PM to 7 PM & Sat 6 PM to 6-30 PM (In Gujarati) Canada: 'ATN' Every Wed-Thu 8.30 A.M to 9.00 AM EST All over the World (except India) on 'Sony TV' Mon-Fri 7 AM to 7:30 AM (In Hindi) Contact : Mahavideh Foundation, Trimandir, Simandhar City, Ahmedabad-Kalol Highway, P.O.:Adalaj, Dist.:Gandhinagar-382421, Gujarat, India. Tel. : (079) 23974100, Email: dadavani@dadabhagwan.org Mumbai : (022) 24137616, USA: 785-271-0869, UK: 020-8204-0746 Websites : (1) www.dadabhagwan.org (2) www.dadashri.org (3) www.ultimatespirituality.org 24

February 2006