Aptavani-1
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one to achieve liberation. Lord Krishna too has referred to
intellect as ‘vyabhicharani’ (licentious or seductive). The intellect
drowns one in the worldly life; it will never let a person come
out of it. It is totally detrimental to the self with reference to
liberation. As the intellect increases, so does one’s internal
suffering. Why does a twenty-year-old sibling have greater
sorrow than his two-year-old upon the death of their mother?
It is because the twenty-year old has more intellect.
The Lord has said that one does not need to use intellect
at all in the worldly life, but if there is a need to do so, then He
has set a limit. Just use enough intellect to free yourself from a
precarious situation and to ensure that you do not find yourself
in the same situation again. But these foolish people have started
to use their intellect to make money through devious means.
Not only that but people have learned to swindle others by
tricking them. A trick means to deceive the other person without
him knowing that he has been deceived. That is grave raudra-
dhyan and for that not even the seventh hell (the worst of the
seven stratum of hell) will accommodate them.
Universally Acceptable Speech
What is the definition of ‘syaadvaad’? Syaadvaad is to not
hurt anyone’s feelings or to say that their viewpoint is wrong. You
may find it wrong but it is the other person’s viewpoint. The one
who is syaadvaad will accept every viewpoint because he is
sitting in the center. I am syaadvaad. I am sitting in the center.
The Lord has said to do samayik, pratikraman (apology)
and pratyakhyan (inner resolve never to repeat the error), which
are the activities for the attainment of the Soul. These activities
are to be performed properly and in accordance with his
instructions.
From the perspective of only absolute knowledge,