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Sixth Fundamental-Path and Means of Liberation
identification induce Karma particles to penetrate in the provinces of soul and they stay there till maturity. The identification of soul with the body is thus the cause of acquiring Karma.
That situation would change when the soul realizes its true nature. Then it would come out of the false identification. Worldly activities will take place thereafter as long as the embodiment continues. But the soul would not get attached to any of them. It would remain an indifferent spectator of whatever happens; it would not indulge in craving or aversion for any situation that may arise from time to time. Thereby it ceases to be Kartä (Actuator) of Karma and hence would not have to bear the consequences.
It is easy to make out that since such a soul does not acquire new Karma, it does not have to bear new consequences. But the question would arise about earlier Karmas that might still remain in balance. How can any soul be absolved from bearing the consequences of old Karmas? Does the inexorable law of Karma cease to operate in that case?
The law does continue to operate, but it should be remembered that the consequences of Karma are always extended to the body, not to the soul. It is only false identification that leads the soul to identify itself with the body and to feel that it undergoes the said consequences. When such identification falls off, the soul perceives and knows what happens to the body, but stays free from the pain or pleasure associated with it. It merely remains an indifferent observer. As such, it is said that the liberated soul does not bear the consequences.
There is also the possibility of mass scale destruction of the extant Karmas. As a huge stack of cotton can be burnt
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