15 Dec 2022
[Srivatsa Datta asked: While doing practical service to You, I feel that there are some defects in my ideas. Is it proper Swami?]
Swami replied: Jnana yoga is studying the true spiritual knowledge. This is the causal step. The effect or the product of this cause is either aspiration based-devotion, a Brass chain or aspiration free-devotion, a golden chain. Hence, basing on the material of the chain, we can decide whether the cause is true spiritual knowledge (Gold) or false spiritual knowledge (Brass). The former devotion means Brass since there is aspiration for some fruit in return from God. The latter devotion means Gold since there is no aspiration for any fruit in return from God. In the initial stage, the earning or learning is weak and hence, Brass ornaments or the former type of devotion is inevitable because every beginning is surrounded by defects just like an ignited fire is covered by smoke in the early stage. As the earning or learning becomes stronger and stronger, Golden ornaments or the latter type of devotion results just like the ignited fire in advanced stage shines with bright flames without smoke.
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