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The yogic perspective, which is the correct understanding of reality, is the only true bondage, meaning there is no real difference between merit and demerit. In other words, the happiness that is the result of merit is also just suffering, arising from karma. This happiness, born of merit, is suffering due to its consequence, its heat, its karmic imprint, and its opposition to the true nature of the soul. Just as the consequence of fattening a sheep destined for slaughter is extremely dreadful, and just as the water that quenches thirst ultimately leads to a terrible state, so too is the consequence of the enjoyment of worldly pleasures born of merit extremely dreadful. Where the senses are constantly burning with the heat of desire, fueled by the sun of worldly objects, what happiness can there be? Just as shifting a burden from one shoulder to another does not eliminate the pain, so too does indulging the senses not eliminate the suffering that is inherent in the soul. Happiness, suffering, and delusion are all opposed to the true nature of the soul, yet they are all forms of suffering.
A wise yogi, who has realized the true nature of worldly pleasures born of merit, understands their inherent suffering and is completely detached from them. Why would such a person indulge in these trivial pleasures? Why would they not conquer the objects of the senses, such as sound, touch, etc., which are the tools of Cupid (the god of love)? Why would they not completely abandon the accumulation of karma, which is like the dust of the world, as the Jinas (the enlightened ones) have done? Having tasted the nectar of the joy of meditation, which is the victory over the senses, why would they taste the foul-smelling objects of the senses, which are like a mere mouthful of tasteless food? Because worldly pleasures are dependent on external factors, while the joy of meditation is independent. Worldly pleasures are accompanied by bondage, while the joy of meditation is free from bondage. Worldly pleasures are fragmented and broken, while the joy of meditation is continuous and unbroken. Worldly pleasures are the cause of bondage, while the joy of meditation is the cause of liberation. Worldly pleasures are uneven, while the joy of meditation is even. Having attained this supreme joy of meditation, why would anyone even look at trivial worldly pleasures?
This joy of meditation arises from the strength of discrimination and the power of knowledge. The discrimination that arises from understanding the difference between the self and the non-self, and the knowledge of the self that is gained through this discrimination, are the source of this meditation. Just as the intensity of discrimination is like the sharpness of a sword, so too is the intensity of meditation. And just as the intensity of meditation gives rise to the joy of meditation, so too does it give rise to the intensity of the joy of the self. "If there is no attachment to the objects of the senses, then the world is like a dream." - Shri Pravachansar.
"There is no bondage, no liberation, no difference in the fruits of actions, except for the difference in dependence." - Shri Adhyatmasar, Atmanishchayadhyay, Sloka 60-74.
"Due to its consequence, its heat, its karmic imprint, and its opposition to the true nature of the soul, happiness born of merit is ultimately suffering." - Shri Adhyatmasar.