Who Am I? Who Am I? | Page 33

24 WHO AM I ? What is a ‘top’? It is a toy that a spins on its tip, when the string wound around it, is pulled. The top will spin around until all its energy has dissipated. In this example, the winding of the string is the bhaav purushaarth (cause), and the spinning is prarabdh (effect, result). It is prakruti (primordial nature) that makes a person do things, even though he says, “I am doing it.” He is in essence, just like a puppet on a string. Prakruti makes him do penance, ritualized chanting of mantras, meditation, etc., but he believes that he is the one doing it. Questioner : Tell us about ‘prakruti’, Dada. Dadashri : The moment you claim to be the ‘doer’ (karta), prakruti comes into existence. As Atma, you are the ‘non-doer’ (akarta). You have the wrong belief of, “I am Chandulal,” and of, “I am the doer.” The moment you say this, you become bound. It is because of this wrong belief, that prakruti comes into existence. As long as there is ignorance of the Real ‘I’, one feels that he is the ‘doer’ and he is therefore, bound by his prakruti. When the awareness of, “I am not the ‘doer,’” is acquired and one ceases to be the ‘doer’, the prakruti no longer remains. From that moment onwards, one does not bind any new karma. However, past karmas remain and these have to be discharged. KARTA (DOERSHIP) AND NAIMITTIC (INSTRUMENTAL) DOERSHIP Questioner : If one is not the ‘doer’, then who is? What is the nature of the ‘doer’? Dadashri : One’s ‘doership’ is only ‘instrumental’ (naimittic karta) in all process. One is not an independent ‘doer’ of anything. This ‘instrumental ‘doership’ can be further defined as a parliamentary process where the final decision is based on