For the aspirant of the Absolute Truth, a description of
the Gnani can be invaluable in his cognition of Him. How are
we to recognize the Gnani? What attributes of his would
captivate us in spirit?
The first and foremost identifying mark of a Gnani is his
speech: It is Absolute and free from all attachment. There exists
no other mode or measure in our age. In the days gone by,
there were people so highly developed in their spirituality, that
by just a mere look into the eyes of the Gnani, they could
recognize his vitragta – his state void of any attachment towards
worldly thing, including his physical body. Not even for a split-
second is the Gnani bereft of vitragta.
The Gnani should be recognized through his outstanding
qualities. But how can an ordinary individual understand such
qualities? There are 1008 qualities of the Gnani, of which four
are exclusive in the Gnani.
1. The Gnani has the dazzling majesty of the Sun-God.
He is the symbol of the infinite luster and strength of the Pure
Self. This strength is visible in his eyes. Only on experience
does one feel the Divine energy behind it.
2. The Gnani has ‘the coolness’ of the Moon in his un-
surpassing love and compassion. Everyone in his presence feels
the bracing tranquility of this ‘coolness.’ It is so soothing that
one would not wish to be away from the Gnani even for a
moment. The power of His coolness is enough to ‘melt’ the
radiant heat of the sun - a person may come to Him, tormented
with rage and anger but with a mere glance into His eyes – the
splendor of serenity within will sooth and calm him.
Radiant splendor and soothing ‘coolness’ of compassion
- these two virtues exist simultaneously in the Gnani alone.
Some have the splendor of strength without ‘the cool’ of
compassion and some have ‘the cool’ without the ‘splendor’ of
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