Those who are endowed with Atmajnana, the knowledge of the Atma as their basic truth, do cross the ocean of birth and death and without doubt attain liberation. On the other hand, those who are ignorant of the vows and rites prescribed for them, as well as those who have not studied the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Gita, but satisfy themselves with mere external purity and show, such will surely suffer grief.

The Nithyaanushthaana, or the rites and vows prescribed for daily adherence, is very important among the disciplines. It is the highest Thapas, the highest Dharma. Have you noted what the Gita, the essence of all Upanishads, has to say on this point? Those who are ever active in the spiritual field, in whatever Asramas they may be, whatever may be their caste, they attain the Lord. That is what Manu also says. "They are endowed with Vijnaana." The person who is free from all desire, who has not even the slightest inclination to posses or enjoy the sensory world, who has no trace of egoism or possessiveness, who is ever in the bliss of Brahmam-consciousness, is far from any tinge of sorrow, he is established in supreme joy and peace. At least in his last moments, if a man is fixed in the knowledge of his basic nature, which is Brahmam, he can successfully merge in That, beyond doubt.

The "Sthithaprajna" stage is quite natural for such persons. The constant feeling, "I am Brahmam", is the panacea for all the ills of man. Liberation comes through this "Aham Brahmaasmi" idea itself. That is the real duty of man, to cultivate that feeling and enter upon that experience. The ajnani, or the ignoramus, who is moved by the inert or the jada principle, believes that the body is himself! The pandit who is capable of a little ratiocination and enquiry feels that the jivi in the body is "I". But those wise men who can see the An-atma is separate from the Atma, they know that the truth is: "Aham Brahmaasmi" and they do not stray from that conviction.

Castes like "Brahmin", colours like white and black, asramas like Brahmacharya etc. these are physical conditions; they are not characteristics of the Atma. They are conditioned by time and place. They belong to this world of bondage, and are governed by reasons related to that world. They are ordained by the Divine Will for the orderly functioning of the world. They have to be observed by every one who is bound by worldly limitations. For those who are untouched by the limitations and extensions, that is to say, who are beyond worldly ties, they are unimportant. That is why the persons who are ever engaged in Brahmanishta, those who have grasped the basic Reality, do not observe them so much! They are not bound to caste; they see everything as the basic Reality Itself. How then they pay attention to what is called caste? But until that stage is reached, you have to follow the rules of caste and asrama without exception. This is the Dharma for the "deha-conscious" - the Dehadharma.