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Book Seven
Notes
Question
1. When the soul is to be reborn straight in the first unit of time after death, then, it takes food in that very first unit. But when it is to be reborn, not straight, but in a roundabout manner, in the second unit, then the soul remains without food in the first unit and takes food in the second unit. The same holds as between the second and the third units of time. But by the fourth unit of time, no soul remains unborn, and hence none is without food.
2. During the first time unit after rebirth, the intake is the smallest because of the limited physical capacity. So also at the final moment when the capacity for intake is very much contracted. The Prajñāpanā Sūtra distinguishes between volitional and automatic intake of food. The reference here is to the latter form of intake."
9. In making an offer of food which is pure and without contamination of living objects, one attains equanimity. The offer of food is as good as the offer of life. The verb cayai ( 745 ) has been translated as 'to renounce'. It may also mean to reduce the duration of karma, to reduce its intensity, etc. Thus equanimity is derived by making an offer of good and prescribed food to a worthy recipient. Cf.
अणूकंप अकामणिज्जर बालतवे दाणविणए । ( Compassion, exhaustion with detachment, penance, offer and humility impart equanimity.
12. The eight-fold coat of grass and clay has been compared with eight-fold karma.
