Aptavani-5 Aptavani-05 | Page 58

Aptavani-5 19 Dadashri: It is an error of his knowledge (gnan). He does not have the ‘decision’ about what real knowledge is. It is because of ignorance that bhaav arises. He worries that ‘if I don’t do it this way, what will become of me in this world?’ This means that his nischay (decision), even on his own knowledge, is broken. He knows that his knowledge is wrong. Now, this knowledge is not for liberation. It is knowledge of the worldly life. It is purely temporary and it continues to change according to circumstances. The Flow of Worldly Life Every living being is ‘flowing’ in the ‘river of life’. Just like the water flowing in the Narmada River, we are not doing anything. The flow itself takes us ahead. In the past life if one is on the ninth mile and everything there is green and lush with all kinds of wonderful mango trees, almond trees, different fruit trees, and beautiful gardens. In this life one arrives at the tenth mile where there is nothing but desert all around. So then he is troubled and gnawed from within, by the gnan of the ninth mile. He asks for mangos and almonds here in this life, but without success. This is how one ‘flows’ forward on and on. This is the work of niyati; a natural progression of evolution of a soul, life after life. However, niyati is only one of the factors; it is not there as a doer. There is no one or no single entity in this world who is the doer. At the same time however, this world has not come about without a doer. Nevertheless, they are all instrumental doers in the process (naimitik karta; apparent doer) and not independent doers. If they were independent doers, then they would become bound by their actions. The instrumental doer (naimitik karta) does not become bound by his actions. Questioner: So in this the one who is the doer, is he to believe that he is instrumental (nimit) in the process? Dadashri: Yes, he has the understanding that, ‘I am a nimit’. Many people tell me, ‘Dada you did this for me’, or