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190
PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
of Karma. He is mentioned as begging alms with a bowl and as maintaining himself thereby.
Sun is also described as a powerful deity. It is the central figure in the planetary system. It influences the fluid of life in all worldly creatures by imparting warmth. It is also victimised by the clutches of Karma'. It is destined to undergo revolutions and that too in the sky without any platform as a substratum.
The meaning of a verse in Buddhistic Scriptures runs as follows :
Buddha's foot is pricked with a thorn during his migration. Thereupon he spoke to his monks as follows “Oh Monks! in the gist Kalpa, as a king I had pierced through a person with a spear, and as a reward of my deed I am pricked with a thorn today.”
This means that a deed is rewarded even after millions of years and this proves the efficacy of the power of Karmas.
Now how should we weaken this power of Karmas? This also we would like to instruct. Social affairs show that a foe's foe is a friend. Karmas act inimically upon the soul and religion further acts inimically against actions; therefore religion is our friend. It can rightly be called our saviour or the protector. It can do lot of welfare to us if it is resorted to.
The world abounds in iron and pārasa-stones, but their mutual contact is essential anyhow. In the absence of such contact iron would not turn into gold. We have already narrated the tale of 'Parasmani' in the foregoing chapters.
With the heating influence of fire, the water in a pot diminishes and in the same manner influence of Karma is also diminished by the practice of righteousness till finally it is completely relaxed. Just when gum is removed from the brim of an envelope, the brim does not stick on the envelope proper; sticky nature, when eliminated from Karmas by religious practices also does not stick on to you.
You have been devoting yourself to temporal pleasures since ages, now you should devote yourself to religious rites. Devote yourselves to the God and the preceptor to smash down the shackles of "Past deeds”. Religious practices are not necessary after these
