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IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GODS.
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being the causes of the fusion of spirit and matter, must continue to produce their effects so long as they exist.
Surely, it is but common sense to say that unless we ourselves desist from the doing of evil and banish it from our hearts no one else can do it for us from without; and it is legitimate to infer that the forces which are set in motion by our own actions must remain operative and produce their appropriate results unless their causation is stopped and destroyed. Not only is the natural law opposed to the idea of redemption by the favour of another, but also not one instance can be cited of a man who may be said to have reached nirvana that way.
The effect of desires on the constitution of the soul is to make it negative,' opening its pores, as it were, through which penetrates the poison of sin. It is this negative condition which is to be changed before redemption can be had, for in consequence of it the soul constantly draws the particles of a kind of subtle matter (known as karma-pudgula) unto itself, acting like a magnet. Change of intention, therefore, is the main thing to be done, but this is not possible except where the soul exerts itself in the right way, since no one can change the evil intention of another. This is why Jesus was never tired of repeating, in one form or another, the old injunction imparted by every Saviour before his time:
“And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say."- Luko vi. 46.
So far as the harmful consequences of evil intent are concerned, Jesus correctly pointed out the principle
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