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GLIMPSES ALONG LIFE'S JOURNEY
ment of peaceful serenity. They are very very long-lived, their term of life being measured, not in years, but, by way of analogy, in oceans of years. They all live for thirty-three O.Y.s (Oceans of Years); and premature death is unknown, and impossible for them.
The effect of their meritorious work in the earlier stages of the Life's Journey, towards the Goal, enables them to manifest a great deal of the hidden virtue of the spiritual nature in them; they enjoy the peaceful bliss, springing from within their Soul's being, although it is somewhat tinged with the material nature, that still remains to be eradicated. Sexual craving is like thirst when one is suffering from high fever, and is only felt by the man who is a slave to his senses. As he who has got no fever to make him thirsty does not regard iced water as gratifying, so will not he who is not afflicted with sense-craving ever regard sex-indulgence as adding to his joys. Thus he who has brought his animal nature fully under control, is rid of the craving, and will not miss the excitement any more. The Ahamindras have no regrets, no needs, nor longings for any kind of sense-produced pleasure. They do not even care to visit other places in the heavens or on earth, and are ever filled with the innate delight of the soul.