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Istopadeśa - The Golden Discourse
footnote on p. 3). Fear relates to the imagined outcomes not only pertaining to this life but also the life beyond.
All kinds of sufferings result into the feeling of pain. Different kinds of sufferings manifest different affective expressions. The feeling of sadness at the loss of something desirable causes sorrow. The feeling of distress owing to disgrace causes agony. Howling out of anguish is moaning. Damage to vitalities or physical injury causes discomfort and painful sensation. Loud outcry or wailing when afflicted is lamentation.
All the above mentioned sorrowful and painful conditions are but the destiny of a typical worldly man, considered to be one of the prized states of existence. It is in this context that the Acārya says that the worldly life is so full of pain and suffering that before we get over one misery, many more are ready to overtake us.
Only our karmas enshroud the natural attributes of the soul. The right believer knows that the soul reaps the fruits of the past karmas in many forms including body formation, state of existence, duration of life, and feelings of pleasure and pain. Determined to regain the lost purity of his soul, he allows neither the riches nor the calamities to cast their shadow on it. Neither does he get overflowed with pride or joy on the gain of desired objects, nor downcast with sorrow or grief on the loss of agreeable objects and on contact with disagreeable ones.
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