________________
Chapter 13: The Pupil's Fifth Doubt regarding Liberation
The pupil now raises the fundamental question of liberation. Most religions do not believe in ultimate liberation. Some religions treat heavenly life as a goal, but that life does not last forever. It can be retained only for a limited period. Some others consider abiding in proximity with God as liberation. Vedänt specifies an ultimate liberation that consists of the soul being merged in the all-pervading Brahman. It means that the soul ceases to have its individuality in that state. Seeking such liberation thus amounts to seeking one's own extinction. In that case, why would one feel inclined to seek it?
By now the pupil has grasped the philosophy of Karma and stands convinced that the soul acquires Karma and bears the consequences. He is now concerned about liberation, which can free the soul from the misery and unhappiness of worldly existence. The question that arises in his mind is, 'If the soul goes on acquiring Karma, how can it be liberated?' It is observed that while bearing the consequences of earlier Karma, the worldly soul reacts favorably or unfavorably to those consequences and thereby begets new Karma. In that case how can there be any end to it? The pupil therefore feels that there cannot be any possibility of its liberation from the cycle of birth and death. That problem is presented in the following two stanzas.
Kartä Bhoktä Jiv Ho, Pan Teno Nahi Moksha; Vityo Käl Anant Pan, Vartamän Chhe Dosh.
The soul may be the acquirer of Karma and bearer (of consequences), but it cannot be liberated; infinite time has elapsed, but the fault (of acquisition of Karma) still continues to prevail. (87)
Explanation & Discussion:
The pupil states that the worldly soul has been acquiring Karma and bearing its consequences since the time immemorial. While bearing the consequences it reacts favorably or unfavorably to the situations that it gets from time to time, and thereby acquires new bondage. Since it is conditioned to react that way, the cycle of birth and death is going to continue forever. As such, it would be futile to think of the liberation.
The worldly soul has always been smeared with Karma. It has been under its impact since the infinity, and has been taking birth after birth to bear its consequences. Though this has been continuing since the infinity, the cycle of birth and death has not yet come to an end. As the soul cannot refrain from indulging in craving or aversion, it would continue to acquire the bondage of Karma. It is therefore not possible to visualize a time when that cycle would come to an end. Hence it is contended that the cycle is going to continue forever, and there is no possibility of the soul being freed from it.
