A strong opinion focused on one particular thing will result
in a major obstruction (atkan). Comparatively the effect of the
obstruction of many scattered opinions will be significantly
terrible.
“The sensual pleasures (vishay) do not have attachment
- abhorrence; only the belief of the opinion has attachment-
abhorrence.”
~ Dadashri
This quote of the Gnani drives away the notion of doing
relentless exertion to become free from sensual pleasures. By
saying it is ‘like an elephant’s bath’ (elephants after bathing in
water, spread dirt on themselves); it makes one alert towards
removing the root cause: the wrong belief about the opinion, of
there being any lasting happiness in the pleasure of the senses.
Once it is decided that opinions are to be broken, they
start to break down. Opinions that are very deeply entrenched,
can be depleted after doing pratikraman (repentance and
asking for forgiveness for the error) everyday for two hours!
The one who has attained the Soul (Atma), the one who has
become Self-realized (Purush), is capable of any endeavor
(purusharth) or extraordinary effort (parakram)!
Whatever one’s opinion, such will be the non-Self
complex of mind, speech and body (pudgal) that forms in the
next life.
It is necessary to detach and remove the opinion, about
the opinion that has remained in a subtle form.
Who makes one make opinions? Only societal influence
(loksangnya; worldly peer pressure), because one’s belief is
based on popular knowledge, and accordingly, the intellect
makes the decision as to how one behaves. Once the
‘knowledge of the Gnani’ (Gnani-sangnya) is followed, the
effect of the knowledge of people (loksangnya) becomes
extinct!
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