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-6118 8 644] Chapter Six
1257 The cause of hellish life is the excessive beginning and attachment. The continuous performance of cruel deeds like violence, greed, excessive attachment to worldly objects, black aura, fierce meditation, and death-time characteristics are the causes of hellish life. 8639. It has been said that the cause of hellish life is excessive beginning and attachment. Now, the cause of animal life should be explained. Therefore, the next sutra says:
Maya is the cause of animal life. ||16||
8640. Maya, which arises from the special karma of character-delusion, is the crookedness of the soul. It is also known as degradation. It is the cause of animal life. Its detailed explanation is: spreading false doctrines mixed with true ones, leading a life devoid of good conduct, being fond of excessive arguments, and having a blue or pigeon-colored aura, anxious meditation, and death-time characteristics are the causes of animal life.
8641. The cause of animal life has been explained. Now, the cause of human life should be explained. Therefore, the next sutra says:
Little beginning and little attachment are the causes of human life. ||17||
8642. The cause of hellish life has been explained. The opposite of that is the cause of human life. This is the summary of this sutra. Its detailed explanation is: having a gentle nature, being naturally virtuous, behaving with good qualities, having few passions, and not having any distress at the time of death are the causes of human life.
8643. Is this the only cause of human life, or are there others? Therefore, the next sutra says:
Gentleness of nature is also the cause of human life. ||18||
8644. Gentleness is the quality of being soft. Gentleness of nature is being gentle by nature. This means that it is not dependent on any instruction.