Aptavani-8 Aptavani-8 | Page 17

( Bheda-Gnani ) can impart the awareness of one ’ s own real Self ( vastutva ), through his Knowledge of separation .
In giving credence to the conviction ( pratiti ) about the Atma , the Gnani says that , just as fragrance exposes the existence ( astitva ) of perfume , the Atma – although invisible ( aroopi ) – can be discerned by its inherent blissful nature . The very state of the Absolute Soul ( Parmatma ) is infinite ( anant ) Knowledge ( Gnan ), infinite Vision ( Darshan ), infinite Energy ( shakti ), and infinite bliss ( sukh ). This is the You ( the Self ). But it is only after you have the realization of your own real form ( swaroop ), that all these qualities will be uncovered .
You can recognize the difference between chetan ( Atma ; the Self ) and jada ( non-Atma ; inanimate ) by their intrinsic properties ( gunadharma ). Knowledge-Vision ( Gnan-Darshan ), to See and to Know , is the real nature ( swabhav ) of Atma ( chetan ; the Self ). No other eternal element shares the same attribute ( gunadharma ).
Those who doubt the existence of Soul ( jiva ) are like people that would say , ‘ there is no tongue in my mouth ’. They are essentially exposing the existence of their own Atma ( vastutva astitva ). The one , who creates the doubt about Soul , is indeed the self . Is it possible for the nonliving ( jada ; non-Atma ) to have doubt ?
Even in the darkness , the Soul ( jiva ) will recognize all the individual ingredients of the spoonful of shrikhand ( sweet yogurt pudding ) in the mouth . The sensory nerves carry the message , but the One who knows , is the Atma . It is the soul ( jiva ) itself that has always been the one to desire and seek bliss .
Where there is feeling ; there is Atma ( Self ), and where there is no feeling there is no Atma . And yet , the Atma has no feeling . It is the pudgal ( the physical gross and subtle non-Self complex ) that has feeling . That which moves , speaks , eats and drinks is not Atma ( chetan ), but where there is any knowledge or ignorance ; sympathy or feeling , there is chetan ( Atma , Self ).
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