Aptavani-8
171
One Element: Many States
There are infinite Atmas, and they are all worthy of
becoming God, but for now, they are in a state of mudhatma
(unaware of the Self), which is bahirmukhi atma (externalized
vision of the self).
A soul whose vision is directed towards the external
(bahirmukhi atma) itself means that it is unaware of the Self
(mudhatma). Vision, that is directed towards the external
(bahirmukhi) means that one looks for happiness in temporary
things; ‘this is mine, this will give me happiness (sukh), this is
how I will be happy’, and he wanders for infinite lifetimes; but
nothing gives him happiness. And so he becomes weary. Even
then he will say that ‘this will bring happiness’. But there are so
many things like that, infinite things, where one pushes one thing
aside and picks up another, moves this one and then another! As
he continues to do that, the time is passing, and happiness is
nowhere to be found.
All worldly pleasures are temporary, and they are imagined
(kalpit); they are not real happiness. Imagined (kalpit) means
that you may like rice-pudding, while someone else dislikes it.
Does that not ever happen?
Questioner: Yes, it does.
Dadashri: Then everyone likes real happiness (sukh).
Happiness that is eternal and true, is something that everyone
likes. This is imaginary happiness (kalpit sukh). Everyone’s is
different. These Hindus eat vegetarian food, while Muslims prefer
the other. So everyone has different imaginings and notions
(kalpit). This means that as long as one desires enjoyment of
imaginary pleasures, as long as one has passion for it, one lives
as an embodied soul (jivatma). Until then, one is considered an
embodied soul (jivatma). When one meets the Gnani Purush,
he becomes antaratma (inner awakened Self; the interim state