In plain words
These gems are found only in the earth; they are not found in a tree. If you want to search for these gems, you must search in the earth; search in a tree and they will not come. So it is in this very body of clay that you must search for this gem.
Why Is the Gem of the Ātma Not Found?
Well, we must inquire what the reason is that this gem cannot be found. It is only because the two, the possessiveness called “mine” and the Ahaṅkāra called “I”, stand in the way that people cannot gain it. “Mine” is possessiveness. “I” itself is Ahaṅkāra. Only when we put both of these away, possessiveness and Ahaṅkāra, does purity of citta come. A man with no possessiveness gains purity of citta. A man with no Ahaṅkāra attains the supreme Jñāna. So pride and possessiveness stand in the way of gaining these two, purity of citta and the fulfilment of Jñāna. Every human being must try to put away this pride and possessiveness as far as possible. What is so special in this possessiveness? We do not understand at all what is special in it. The more we grow possessiveness, the more our life falls into unrest. This very possessiveness is the root cause of all man's sorrows. Through this possessiveness, Ānanda is driven away. People are losing Śānti. Comfort comes to nothing. So if a man is to gain this Śānti and happiness, he must put possessiveness away. However, this possessiveness brings some danger. Through infatuation of many kinds, people are growing this sense of “mine”. This very sense of “mine” stands in the way of Mokṣa. This is a very wide road. Ahaṅkāra is more dangerous still. In every human being this Ahaṅkāra lives on as an incurable disease. Various other diseases may be cured by some medicines, but Ahaṅkāra is cured by no medicine at all. We must keep these two under control to some extent and make our search for the sake of the Ānanda of the Ātma.