Aptavani-8
203
Dadashri: This belief about the Atma (Self), not having
any attributes (gunas), is a belief that is fraught with mistakes.
Even a stone does not lack qualities in this world. That stone can
even be used in construction or for throwing (dhekhado), can
it not?
Therefore, the Atma is the Absolute Soul (Parmatma). It
possesses many infinite attributes (gunas). I am going to explain
to you what ‘without attributes’ (nirguna) means. The writers of
the scriptures (shastras), had said ‘without attributes’ (nirguna),
but people interpreted it in their own language. If you understand
it in your own language, would you be likely to receive any
benefit?
Questioner: No.
Dadashri: What are they trying to say? That, with regards
to the attributes of the non-Self (gunas of the prakruti), the
Atma (the Self), is without attributes (nirguna). Not a single
attribute (guna) of the non-Self complex (prakruti) is found in
the Atma. However, it has an abundance of its own natural
attributes (swabhavik gunas). Did you understand this? The
Atma (the Self) does not have a single attribute (guna) of the
non-Self complex (prakruti) in it, which is why it is called nirguna
(without attributes).
In This World, Nothing Is Without Attributes
Questioner: But they say that no matter how you worship
Brahma (Atma) the formless (nirakar), which is without
attributes (nirguna); that is the way he will present himself right
in front of you. That means through the means of a vision with
form (sakaar swaroop), one can have such a darshan.
Dadashri: This is how it was: the Brahma (Atma) that
was given to these people; was really the Brahma of illusion
(bhramanaa). Atma (Brahma) is really not without attributes
(nirguna). This is an illusion of the illusion (bhramanaa noh