Aptavani-5
201
understanding needs to be checked, as to whether it is right or
wrong.
Questioner: Is there a difference between a devotee
(bhakta) and a Gnani?
Dadashri: Yes, the difference is like that between the
sevya (the Lord, the absolute Self) and his devotee (sevak).
Eventually the devotee will become the Lord. The Gnani is the
Lord and the devotees are the worshippers. By worshipping
the Lord one is gradually becoming the Lord. The form (their
real form; the Self) is the same; the difference is due to
circumstances. Everyone who has attained Self-realization is
called a ‘gnani’, but if all these ‘gnanis’ were to speak, how
will you deal with that situation? Therefore, a Gnani should
have scriptural knowledge (shrutgnan). He should have the
knowledge of the scriptures of the Vitarag Lords as well as
scriptural knowledge of the path of the Vedanta and that is
why they are called Gnanis. You cannot call anyone a Gnani
just like that.
Questioner: If I ask for blessings (ashirwaad) and He
gives it, will it bear fruit?
Dadashri: Yes, but not always. There has to be
vachanbud (energy and power in one’s speech) in it for it to
bear fruits. Nevertheless, one should give blessings. However,
no one can give blessings even if he wants to give. It only
happens when the person receiving the blessings is meant to get
the blessings, and that is when the one becomes instrumental
(nimit) in the process. The one who has yashnaam karmas
(fame bearing karmas, credit bearing karmas where one will be
praised by everyone for anything he does) becomes a nimit in
that. Then they start a ‘business’ of blessing others. How is
anyone going to bless others when he does not have even the
independent control over his own bowels? It is just his
yashnaam karmas at work, and prominent people have better