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Aptavani-8
not have the same knowledge as you. All these people have a
different kind of knowledge. They all say that the body is
temporary (vinashi), and you are saying that the body is not
temporary (vinashi). If cups and saucers were to break in your
home, would you not feel anything?
Questioner: I am asking you what temporary means,
from a scientific point of view.
Dadashri: No. Here, you do not need a scientific
viewpoint. You need the viewpoint from worldly interaction
(vyavahar). Here in the interaction of the world (vyavahar),
you need the viewpoint of worldly interaction (vyavahar).
I can even tell you what it is from the scientific point of
view. The scientific viewpoint says that, ‘In this world, there is
no decrease in a single subatomic particle (parmanu).’ No matter
how much destruction it undergoes, there is no decrease in a
single subatomic particle, and in the same way there is no increase
in a single subatomic particle. But if cups and saucers break in
people’s houses, does it not cause a commotion? Is there not a
fuss when clothes get burnt? If your house were burned down,
would you not be distraught? That is why it is called temporary
and destructible (vinashi). The Atma does not get burnt in it.
Questioner: Does temporary mean, whether it is only a
change of state?
Dadashri: Temporary (vinashi) means the circumstances
(avastha) are destroyed. The elemental thing (vastu) itself is not
destructible (vinashi); the element (tattva) is not destructible
(vinashi). But it is the circumstances that arise, which get
destroyed. Even the people in the world are caught up in the
circumstances, and that is why we have to say that they are
temporary (vinashi).
If these people go to a doctor and say, ‘Doctor, I have
a fever.’ and the doctor says, ‘It is permanent (avinashi).’ then