Kumbhakonam,
March 28, 1952
All of us are still at the level of Jiva-Nature. It means that Apara Prakruti is operating within us. It is a type of the nature that acts with duality, like attachments and malice, and create dualities in our lives. Its vision and tendencies are geared towards only dualities. It believes that, we are limited and constrained in the idea that we are body, mind and prana etc,. It has no idea of anything beyond that. Other kind of Prakruti is Para Prakruti. It is divine and has no elements of duality. Para and Apara are not different at their roots, but the words are coined to explain the variety of nature that prevails at the practical level. Otherwise, everything is One. The divine nature does not operate on the principle of duality, while the Apara nature is inspired by the dualities. Para Prakruti operates from the inspiration from the heart of such a person whose consciousness is awakened. He has no tendencies of dualities, although at a later stage, he can take up the work with dualities at will and appear that way in the eyes of an ordinary human being. Apara Prakruti can understand Para Prakruti only by its own standard of duality. People with Apara Prakruti cannot understand people with Para Prakruti completely and truly, without first experiencing Para Prakruti. Para Prakruti can function within us with inspiration, break all bonds and march forward. It can also bring forth the experience of oneness. So, the Jiva without experiencing Para Prakruti, cannot experience the Consciousness. If we can stay in divine and Para Prakruti, then only we can have vision of Shree Bhagwan, otherwise not. Our life can be divine only if we can stay every moment with such love and awareness.
Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Sopan
Edition 3; Pages 145 - 146.
My two cents - Duality means Dwand (દ્વંદ્વ) e.g honest-dishonest. We function with Apara Prakruti.
Pujya Shree Mota has put great emphasis on developing Bhava of Goodness (one of the divine good qualities) towards all, to develop Para Prakruti. Bhava of Goodness means it works from your side only and does not depend on the reaction of the others. This way there is absence of duality.
Ashwin.
