The Infinite Journey continues...
Understanding Doership and Experience
In the immediate previous blog (https://so-what-dilip.blogspot.com/2026/03/11-infinite-journey.html), the focus was on the core principle that the Soul is the Knower since infinity (beginningless time) and that it has an association with Karma.
Due to this association, from the empirical standpoint, the Soul has been continuously identifying the “self” with karma and thereby slipping into the zone of doership in an almost uninterrupted manner.
Since the Soul is involved in this association and experiences the effects of Karma through its states, another perspective opens up. This connects to the 3rd and 4th propositions out of the six fundamental propositions of the Soul.
The Six Propositions:
Soul exists
Soul is permanent (no beginning and no end)
Soul is the Doer
Soul is the Experiencer (Bhogta)
Soul is Liberation
Soul is the path to Liberation
The first 2 were largely covered in the previous one with regards to the "real identity" and the "infinite journey"
Let's ponder over 3 and 4 here.
3. The Soul is the Doer
All substances undergo modifications (Paryay).
Every substance is known along with its states.
The Soul too undergoes modifications; even at the most subtle level, such as thoughts, inclinations, and internal movements.
From this perspective, it is called a doer. However, this doership is understood in three distinct ways:
a. From the Absolute Standpoint (Nischay):
The Soul is the doer only of its own intrinsic modifications — its pure knowing and seeing nature.
b. From the Empirical Standpoint (Vyavahār Naya):
In relation to karmic association, the Soul is said to be the doer of karmic actions.
c. From the Conventional Standpoint (Upchār):
The Soul is said to be the doer of external activities like building, creating, acting in the world.
4. The Soul is the Consumer (Bhogta)
Every action has a result. This is evident.
From poison comes the result of poison
From sugar comes sweetness
Just as touching fire inevitably leads to burning, in the same way, inner states such as anger, attachment, and aversion give rise to corresponding results.
These results are experienced.
Thus, from the empirical standpoint, the Soul, being associated with these states, is also called the consumer (bhokta).
The Turning Point in the Journey:
Having understood these two propositions, the journey now presents two clear directions:
I. Continuing in Bondage
The Soul, being eternal and beginningless, continues its journey with karmic accumulation; both merit (shubh) and demerit (ashubh).
This cycle has been ongoing since infinity.
II. Moving Towards Liberation
The other path is to consciously move towards cleansing karmic bondage, allowing the intrinsic purity (shuddh swaroop) of the Soul to manifest fully.
Liberation is not something newly created; it is the complete revelation of what already is.
A crucial shift in understanding:
Even now, from the empirical standpoint, the Soul continues as Karta (doer) and Bhokta (consumer).
However, if there arises a true inner intent for freedom, then effort must shift towards:
👉 Remaining in pure knowing (upayog)
👉 Observing every arising state without identification
Guiding Insight from Shri AtmaSiddhi Shastra composed by Shrimad Rajchandra ji.
Karta bhokta karm no,
Vibhaav varte jyaay,
Vrutti vahe nij bhaav ma,
Thayo akarta tyaay.
Where the Soul abides in its own nature, it is no longer the doer.
Understanding Karma in Real Time:
Karma will continue to rise (uday).
Situations will unfold.
Thoughts will arise.
These are outcomes of past associations.
However, an important precision:
👉 The Soul is responsible for its current inner state (bhaav)
👉 The unfolding of events is governed by karmic fruition
The Subtle Trap:
If I respond with:
“I will tolerate this”
“I will act positively”
Even then, subtle doership persists.
Good responses → Shubh karma
Negative responses → Ashubh karma
In both cases, bondage continues.
The Shift from Doing to Knowing:
The core effort is ->
Witness every occurrence
Witness every thought
Witness even the response
Not suppressing, not internally reacting or getting involved/attached with the external reaction, but knowing
Key Principle:
Kriya te karm
(Action is karma)
Upyog e dharm
(Pure awareness is dharma)
Parinaame bandh
(Bondage depends on inner state)
What Then is True Effort?
To ensure:
Actions may continue at the body level
But internally, awareness remains steady
Attachment and aversion gradually dissolve
Only then does karmic accumulation begin to reduce.
The Final Clarity:
The choice is subtle but absolute.
Continue accumulating karma (even refined, even “good”)
OR
Move towards dissolution of karma
The second requires ->
Right vision
Right understanding
Right inner state
End Note:
Liberation is not an achievement in time.
It is the complete uncovering of the Soul’s true nature, free from all karmic coverings.
The journey has been infinite.
But the direction can change. And it can happen NOW.
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