Explanation:
Jiva cannot exist without Atman as the wave cannot exist without water. Hence, when jiva is mentioned, Atman is also automatically mentioned. Now according to Advaita, in a realized soul, the Atman can exist without jiva. But here also, the qualities of the world are subsided and the water (soul) remains without worldly qualities (waves). However, divine qualities (waves) must exist even in the realized soul. A soul without any quality is not real salvation. Such salvation of monism (Advaita) is only the useless inert state of a stone that is obtained in deep sleep everyday. Hence, though the soul without any quality can be achieved by effort, such a state is meaningless. Therefore, the soul too should not exist without any quality in salvation. Salvation is only the liberation from worldly qualities and a simultaneous achievement of divine qualities.
Note:
Divine qualities
Devotion to God, love for God, surrender to God and working for God’s mission are all divine qualities. Salvation means the liberation from worldly qualities and attainment of divine qualities. It does not mean avoiding all qualities, becoming quality-less. Leaving minus and getting plus should be the aim; not attaining zero, even though the zero-state can be achieved. The unconscious state is quality-less, but what is the use of such a state?
The Avadhuta state is by the grace of God
The state of an Avadhuta is coming to zero after leaving the minus. But people remain at zero and do not progress further to the plus. They refuse to achieve the plus. One should have good qualities after removing the bad qualities. Becoming quality-less is like becoming unconscious and entering into deep sleep. When all the bad qualities are removed, the soul becomes quality-less. Yet the good qualities are not achieved. In this intermediate state the soul will have a quality-less state. The Avadhuta state is achieved by the grace of God alone. By the grace of God he leaves the worldly qualities and by the grace of God, he attains divine qualities.
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