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particles of earth, fire, air, and water. (2) Planis or the Veget: ble world. (3) The inhabitants of the Nether Regions. (4) Lower animals. (5) Higher animals (6) Men and gods.
The differentiating attribute of a living being is Know ledge or Jñāna which pervades the whole universe. Each being each object, each particle, however low, it might be, -bas a soul. These souls are mutually independent. In the lowest beings they are without intelligence, with knowledge. Their distinctive mark is as though veiled. It has only a potential existence. With the superior beings, it rises, on the contrary, to the level of consciousness.
As a consequence of its union with matter, Being is sub jected to Karma i-e to acts, and their consequences. In a manner of speaking, Karma regulates the transmigration of souls. The cycle of existences (Ek Samsāra ) is worked in accordance with the Karma. If its acts were meritorious, and in accordance with the religious Law, the soul after death passes into the body of a superior class; it animates a god or a man of a high family. If its acte were bad, in opposition to Dharma, the soul falls in the hierarchy of beings. It becomes the soul of an animal, or of an inhabitant of hells or attaches itself to a plant or to an elemental particle.
Karma, thun is for the soul cause of its enslavement. It tightens the links which attaches the souls to matter, and then gives rise, in an infinite series, to new acts. This is a condition of sorrow Hence, the sage who has coraprehended the causes of sorrow, must apply himself incessantly to the diminution of actions and to combat their ill-effects. He must master bis senses, and destroy his passions. In a word, be rnust suppress activity. In proportion as he prevents the Karma being renewed, he anni hilates its consequences.
Asceticism.
Asceticism-chat is the way to Salvation. Then break finally the chains that link tbe soul to matter. The living being
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