Only by realizing the soul, the soul's liberation is not achieved. Along with dharma dharma 1) Universal law or principle that 'sustains' or 'upholds' the entire world. Righteousness, morality, religion, Tap to open in glossary → It does not happen by one's own strength. Even if one is highly capable, it does not happen. It happens through refuge. If one takes refuge in God, then no matter how capable one is. One should let go of the pride of one's own spiritual endeavors. And how can the refuge in God become firm? One should make efforts for that. Maharaj says, "Today we slept a lot. In that sleep, we contemplated a lot, and the decision we made, we are telling you. Even before I came to Ramanand Swami, I used to see the soul directly. And I see it even now. The soul is luminous like the sun. In all the activities of my senses, I do not forget it even for a moment. Such clear realization of the soul Such clear realization of the soul is very difficult to attain. It happens only to a rare few who have the samskaras of many births; it does not happen to everyone. Others may contemplate on the soul for a hundred years, yet they would not realize the soul. And even if such a rare realization of the soul occurs, it does not mean that their liberation is achieved. Yes, perhaps he might attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death, but he does not attain the bliss of the form of God. Attaining liberation solely through realization of the soul is as difficult as crossing the ocean by tying gourds. Yet, Maharaj says, "Why do we speak of or propound this knowledge of the soul?" Because if one believes one's soul to be distinct from the body, then one will not have affection for the body, nor will one have affection for the relatives of the body, and no obstacles will arise in the devotion to God; that is the only purpose. If one has such realization of the soul, then one will not perceive flaws in God or in the actions of God. Maharaj said, "Parikshit did not have such a state, so he perceived flaws in the actions of God." And Shukdevji had attained such a state, so he did not perceive flaws in the actions of God. That is also a purpose of having faith in the soul. It is said that one will also not perceive flaws in the devotees of God. One will also not perceive flaws in the devotees of God. Why do we perceive flaws? Due to selfishness, body-consciousness, and ego; flaws are perceived because of these. If there is selfishness and body-consciousness, then jealousy, this, and that will always persist. "I was told this, and I was not told that." "I was respected, and I was not respected." "This happened to me, and that happened to me." All of that is the action and reaction of body-consciousness. Therefore, if one believes oneself to be the soul, then those actions and reactions will not occur, and one will not perceive flaws even in the devotees of God. Again, it is said, "To become intoxicated, to become intoxicated by identifying with the soul is not the purpose of identifying with the soul." The purpose of identifying with the soul is in satsang satsang 1) True company. The practice of associating with Bhagvãn’s sant, other satsangis, the ãtmã, and the sacred shãstras, and also observing vartmãns and niyams. 2) Also refers to the sampradãy, which is the presence of good company. Tap to open in glossary → to fit in. To fit in satsang satsang 1) True company. The practice of associating with Bhagvãn’s sant, other satsangis, the ãtmã, and the sacred shãstras, and also observing vartmãns and niyams. 2) Also refers to the sampradãy, which is the presence of good company. Tap to open in glossary → It is called fitness, right? When you take this vehicle to the garage, they give a fitness certificate. That this vehicle is now fit to run on the road. It became fit for the doctor. It becomes fit for the military, fitness. What does fitness mean? Capable of performing tasks. Compatible means in performing compatible tasks if one is capable, then one is said to be fit. Therefore, the soul is compatible with God. And fitness in performing devotion to God. Otherwise, devotion cannot be performed to that extent through the body. With body-consciousness. Devotion is indeed performed through the body. But if there is body-consciousness, then one gets tired in devotion. One feels tired, gets bored. One gives up. All of that, giving up on a good activity, is also a form of body-consciousness. Therefore, it does not become compatible. Maharaj says, "We used to see our soul directly." Maharaj would certainly have it. Maharaj is Maharaj; where Maharaj speaks of Himself, there, for the devotees of God, He does so for instruction. What else would Maharaj do? What else can we take from Maharaj? Where Maharaj speaks of Himself, saying, "Maharaj says our nature is such." "We live amidst crowds of millions of people." "So we live for the sake of the devotees of God." So Maharaj does not have any such need, to live or that living would bring liberation. But one who wants to become an excellent devotee compatible with Maharaj, and who wants to remain in the service of Maharaj, he should do so. He should do so, such is Maharaj's. When Maharaj gives His own example, then one should understand it in that way. And when Maharaj gives His own examples, they are much more than all others, extraordinary. That point is extraordinary. Furthermore, in Vachanamrut Antya Antya End. Final. Tap to open in glossary → if in worldly affairs, due to some reason, disputes arise or activities of lust, anger, etc., occur, then if one... activities of jealousy and envy occur. Activities of lust, anger, etc., mean jealousy and envy; in worldly affairs, jealousy and envy occur, right? "He was made great, and I was not." "This was done for him, and not for me." Such jealousy and envy occur due to body-consciousness. But if one believes oneself to be the soul, then which soul is great and which soul is small? Which soul is great? The one who performs worship and service of God is great. And the other, no matter how great, is small. In terms of the soul, all are equal. There is no great or small. Greatness and smallness are only due to the worship of God. How much of a servant of God one has become, and in God's worship, how fit and compatible one has become, then he is great. Furthermore, in Vachanamrut Antya Antya End. Final. Tap to open in glossary → if in worldly affairs, due to some reason, disputes arise or activities of lust, anger, etc., occur, then if we do not know ourselves to be the soul, we will perceive flaws in the Sadhu, which leads to great harm. For that reason, knowing oneself as a soul distinct from the body is the purpose of faith in the soul. Furthermore, in Vachanamrut Gadhada I-23, Maharaj also says that, the only purpose of faith in the soul is that no flaws are perceived in the actions of God. One believes, "I am a soul distinct from the body, so no flaws can touch me, then how can there be any flaws in God, by whose worship I have become like this?" Thus, it helps in maintaining a flaw-free perception of God. Therefore, faith in the soul... That is the purpose of faith in the soul. What is the purpose of identifying with the soul? To be freed from flaws, to remain untouched. Flaws are not going to touch us. It happens quickly through that. It does not mean to be freed from virtues. Virtues should indeed be acquired. To please God. One who has no love for virtues has no love for God either. One who has no love for acquiring virtues has no love for God either. He is zero. Because God possesses virtues. If one wants to love Him, one must become virtuous. Love occurs between like natures; love does not occur between unlike natures. Therefore, one who has no desire to learn virtues cannot have love for God. AI translation of the Gujarati transcript above, produced in the same pass that transcribed the audio, one English segment per Gujarati segment. Devotional and technical terms with no precise English equivalent (kirtan, satsang, vasana, samskara, and similar) are kept as their plain transliteration rather than force-translated. Not human-proofread., AI-translated, unverified · Source details