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in reply to the petition for mercy of the hypothetical sinner of Sura Moumin-"O preserver, send me back that I may do good works in the world which I am leaving"-does not necessarily signify eternity, but might mean not till you have expiated your sins." In ordinary parlance also the word 'never' is not always intended to convey the idea of eternity. Its use in connection with the idea of life in heaven or hell, must, consequently, be taken to mean only a long period, if we are to remain in agreement with established truth. The Jaina Scriptures point out that the length of life in heaven or hell varies according to individual deeds, the longest term consisting of untold millions of years, which is as good as eternity, for all practical purposes of ordinary speech. The reason why moksha cannot be obtained from either the heaven or hell, is to be found in the fact that the soul is deprived of the opportunity for performing tapas in those regions. The continuous life of pleasure in heaven, and the unending experiences of pain in hell leave no time for the practising of meditation and concentration, to say nothing of renunciation and other forms of austerities, without which moksha cannot be attained. For this reason, are these two regions described as Bhoga Bhumis (the worlds of the resulting 'fruits' of action). "The place of just retribution," says the author of 'Al Bayan,' is the next world, where nothing of actions is to be found. The place of actions is this world" (page 166). That being so, it is inconceivable how spiritual evolution can be completed in heaven or hell, so as to enable the soul to Him,' which is the fulfilment of its destiny.
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