The Guru and the Disciple
5
that knowledge to others. Knowledge by its nature involves give
and take.
Questioner: But can one not attain Gnan spontaneously?
Dadashri: Only rarely will one attain Gnan spontaneously,
however, that is an exception; he may not have a guru in this
lifetime, but he must have had one in his previous life. Otherwise,
everything is dependant upon a nimit (someone who is
instrumental evidence in a process). When you come across a
nimit like me, your work is done, but until then you have to
work on furthering your spiritual progress by yourself. Then, if
you meet the Gnani Purush as a nimit, because of that nimit,
everything will manifest.
Questioner: So a person cannot become Self-realized on
his own?
Dadashri: Nothing can be attained with one’s own effort.
No one in this world has ever attained that. If one were meant to
attain the experience on his own, then there would be no need for
schools, would there? There would be no need for colleges either,
would there?
Spontaneous enlightenment is extremely rare
Questioner: The Tirthankaras are considered to have
become enlightened spontaneously (swayambuddha), are they
not?
Dadashri: Yes, the Tirthankaras are all swayambuddha
(spontaneous enlightened), but they bound a birthright as a
Tirthankara in their previous life because of a guru. Thus they are
considered swayambuddha with reference to the perspective that
they do not have a guru in this life. It is a relative thing. Those who
have become swayambuddha today had asked many questions
in their previous life. Therefore, everything in the world happens
through asking. Only a rare one will become swayambuddha