Aptavani-9 Aptavani-9 | Page 529

462 Aptavani-9 Questioner: Yes, right away. Dadashri: Right away? It takes no time? That is good. The hallmark of internal separation and liberation is the extent to which ‘they’ listen to You. The more they pay attention to Your instructions and listen to You, the greater the freedom. You are separate from them by that much. The Self - the absolute Soul cannot be bribed. It cannot be tempted by any bribes. When the self takes bribes and succumbs to such intense greed (lalacha), the kashayas will stop listening to You – the enlightened Self. If the self if being deceitful in corruption, then it will stop listening to You - the Self who has the goal of moving ahead on the path of liberation. Once one tastes the fruits of intense greed (lalacha) and the bribes, those inner enemies (kashaya) will not listen to him. Such worldly interaction (vyavahar) will indeed drag one only in the contrary direction, will it not? Such has been the vyavahar for infinite lives, and this has been the path, has it not? So now even when it goes towards the other side (the worldly side), you have to steer it towards your own goal. An ox will automatically walk on the old path it is used to, will it not? Now You need to follow the path according to Your goal and not the other way, the old path that you were used to. You have to say, ‘Not this way, walk on this one.’ So the inner enemies—anger, pride, deceit and greed, will listen if you do not take the bribe. But once you take a bribe, the suffering from all aspects will follow. Hence, you must never deviate or step off from the decided goal – your dhyeya. Questioner: What is that bribe like? Dadashri: One will go and taste it. And in doing so if he finds sweetness in it, he will sit and linger there. Having tasted it once, he will return for a bottle or two of the same! All this is deceptive tendency (kapat daanat). One wants to follow the path of moksha but also has a deceptive intent;