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SARVODAYA TIRTHA
in understanding them They mistake virtue for something good jand vice for something bad. For, virtue takes one to one of the heavens as a god whereas vice takes one to one of the hells as an infernal being
They do not realise that all the four existences give a worldly life and the worldly life is misery. Virtue and vice are both instrumental to these How can they be good when they give a worldly life ?37 Both virtue and vice lead to bondage and the interest of the soul lies in attaining a state of non-bondage. Though ordinarily virtue has been considered to be superior to vice, but on the road to liberation, even its place is negative.
In this context, Yogindudeva has written in Yogasāra in part as follows:
punņi pāvai sagga ju pāvayen naraya-ṇīvāsu ve chandivi appa munai to labhai siva vāsu
Virtue takes a soul to heaven and vice to hell One who keeps aside from either and knows the soul attains liberation.
How do virtue and vice enter into influx and bondage is indicated in the following Diagram:
pious influx
Virtue
79
pious bondage
sinful influx
influx
Vice
sinful bondage
bondage
Wholesome inclinations give rise to pious influx and pious bondage and unwholesome inclinations give rise to impious influx and impious bondage A bondage whether derived from virtue or from vice is bondage all the same It binds the soul and
37 kammamasuham kusilam suhakammam cavi jāṇaha susilam kaha tam hodi susi'am jam samsaram pavesedi-Samayasara, Gāthā, 145
