Aptavani-5 Aptavani-05 | Page 20

else is pure Soul’; then there will be no doubt! Worshipping the Gnani is same as worshipping the pure Soul, and it is the same as worshipping the absolute Self (Parmatma), and that worship is the cause for moksha. What is the experience of the bliss of the Self like? How can one know it? The hallmark of the bliss of the Self is that there is constant nirakudata (freedom from internal and externally induced agitation and perplexity). If any perplexity or uneasiness is experienced, then know that the awareness as the Self (upayog) has been missed. Whether the experience is that of suffering of pain (ashata-vedaniya) or experience of pleasure (shata-vedaniya), the ‘knowing’ of these is the experience as the Self. Who has bodily pain? It happens to the body, not to the Self. That too is vyavasthit (scientific circumstantial evidences). When there is experience of suffering (vedana), You have to comfort ‘Chandubhai’ and talk to him, ‘Do you have a bad headache? It will get better soon!’ And if you say, ‘I am in pain’, then it clings to you. Change the dictionary. Pain is pleasant and pleasure is unpleasant. Just ‘know’ that, ‘All these experiences of pain and pleasure are happening to the neighbor.’ As the pure Self, One should start the interaction of being separate with the relative self (prakruti). Remain separate from the relative self and talk to the relative self, like a warrior; then the tormenting of the relative self will go away. Stand ‘Chandubhai’ in front of a mirror, pat him on the back and talk to him, comfort him. The Lord has said that Knowledge, vision, conduct and penance (Gnan, darshan, charitra and tapa) are the four foundation pillars of moksha. The highest outer penance is that of unodari (eating less food than what one has the appetite for). And for final liberation, inner penance is required. Inner penance 18