20.1 In the Samvat year 1876, on Posh sud 2 [19th December, 1819], Shreeji Mahãrãj was seated on a decorated bedstead on the veranda outside the east-facing rooms of Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã. He had tied a white pãgh around His head, and a tassel of yellow flowers had been placed in the pãgh. A garland of yellow flowers had been placed around His neck, and bunches of white and yellow flowers had been placed above His ears. He had also covered Himself with a white chofãl and was wearing a khes with a black border. The kathã was being read. A sabhã of paramhans, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him.
20.2 Then, Swãmi Shree Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj said, “Please listen, I wish to ask all of you a question.”
20.3 Hearing this, all the haribhaktas said with folded hands, “Please do ask.”
20.4 Shreeji Mahãrãj then asked, “Who is the most ignorant of all ignorant people?”
20.5 Everyone pondered over the question, but no one was able to reply. So, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “Here, I shall answer myself.”
20.6 Hearing this, everyone was pleased and said, “Mahãrãj, only you will be able to give a precise answer, so please explain.”
20.7 Shreeji Mahãrãj then began, “The jeev, which resides within the body, observes both the attractive and the unattractive. It witnesses childhood, youth, and old age, as well as a countless number of other things. However, the observer (jeev) fails to observe its own svarup. The jeev looks at objects externally, but it does not look at its own svarup. Therefore, it is the most ignorant of the ignorant.
20.8 “Furthermore, just as the jeev indulges in a countless variety of sights with the eyes, it similarly indulges in and knows the pleasures of the other vishays with the ears, skin, tongue, and nose. However, it does not indulge in the bliss of its own svarup and nor does it know its own nature. For this reason, it is the most ignorant of the ignorant, the most senseless of the senseless, the most foolish of fools, and the vilest of the vile.”
20.9 At that point, Shuk Muni raised a doubt. He asked, “Is it truly in a person’s own hands to see his own svarup? If it is, why does the jeev remain ignorant?”
20.10 Shreeji Mahãrãj replied, “For a person who has attained satsang, darshan of his jeevãtmã lies in his own hands. In fact, when has he attempted to see his own svarup and failed to see it? Having become dependent on and made helpless by mãyã, that jeev draws within, and enters the svapna and sushupti states, but never does it draw within of its own accord to see its own svarup. On the other hand, a person who thinks about the greatness of Bhagvãn and draws within himself sees his own svarup as extremely pure and luminous. In the midst of the luminance, he beholds the murti of Purushottam Bhagvãn, and experiences bliss in the way of Nãrad and the Sanakãdik. Therefore, all deficiencies in a bhakta are due to his own laziness.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã I || 20 || 20 ||