Jean: James, over the years of listening to the teachings, you have mentioned in passing your stuff. However, as a jnani, an enlightened jiva, you know it is Isvara’s stuff, so don’t have to worry about it. That knowledge is cast-iron for me. And I think in your book you said that too, but you tidied it up anyway, as was your character.
Around a decade ago, I decided to put to bed “stuff” I had observed between me and the people that were close to me. Is it necessary to know what the jiva is meant to be/do, i.e. svardharma, something specific, or could this jiva be like a floater? Like an extra in a film?
You do noble work teaching and I do noble work as a wife, previously as a dutiful daughter and as a jnani with a brain injury!!!!! You have shitty teeth or had, and I have a daft brain owing to the jiva’s karma. But it doesn’t matter, because I get to shine, shine, shine. There you go, I answered my own question, unless you know different?!?!?
James: You answered it, but I will answer it too. Go to the head of the class! Gold stars all around. Play hooky all week, no consequences. The short answer is yes, the daft-brained floater is an extra in the movie or the second-string team member who sits on the bench the whole game wishing he could play like Michael Jordan. The svadharma teaching is for daft-brained people who don’t know they are daft. Fortunately we know we are off our rockers. They need something to do. As Vidyaranya says, “Jivas enjoy action.” No blame. So we tell them a nice little story about serving God according to their proclivities and hope that one fine day they will get off the bench and become the star of the show.
Jean: You know your svardharma and love life in Maya. Well, I have never really had that. I have the qualities of a nurse, which my mum said I should have been one. Anyway, I do not have that love of life here as James seems to.
James: James can’t help it. What appears as James is just a puppet on Isvara’s string.
