110
Aptavani-8
Dadashri: What other resource (sadhan) do they have
besides this? There may be nischetan chetan in it, but there is
the egoism (presence of ego) in it. It is that egoism which is
working here. And because that egoism is there, they will
definitely succeed; otherwise, one cannot attain chetan (Self)
with simply the nischetan chetan alone.
What Is ‘I’ as an Element?
Every living entity in the world has awareness of its
existence (astitva): ‘I am’, but it does not have awareness of its
elemental essence (vastutva): ‘What am I?’ And this is why
illusion (bhranti) prevails in the world. When the awareness of
‘What am I?’ arises, it would then be regarded as the awareness
of one’s Self (vastutva). And once the awareness of one’s Self
is attained, complete (purnatva) awareness, happens naturally
on its own. The awareness of vastutva (the Self), happens
through bheda vignan (the science that separates the Self from
the non-Self). When the separation of the non-Self (jada) and
the Self (chetan) occurs, it is then that the awareness of the Self
(vastutva) occurs.
And in this world, you cannot call anyone naastik (who
believes that God does not exist; atheist; without existence). Can
you call anyone naastik? Who can be called a naastik? No one
in the world is born a naastik. And when one says, ‘I am
naastik’, it is only his wrong belief (vikalp). Otherwise, no one
is born a naastik. What does naastik mean? It is that which
does not have existence (astitva). But you yourself are the
proof of existence (astitva)! The fact that one says, ‘I am a
naastik’ itself proves one’s existence! Just saying this, is itself
considered existence. Besides, the word naastik is wrong belief.
Wrong belief (vikalp) means that it is a kind of ego (ahamkar)
like, ‘I am an atheist (naastik) and he is a theist (aastik; believing
in existence of God)’!
Questioner: Right now, it is as if a person cannot establish