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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
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SPECIFIC CAUSES OF CONTRACTING
Power-obscuring (Antaraya) Karmas These karmas are contracted when we interfere with the welfare of others. Keeping others hungry or thirsty results in earning hunger and thirst for ourselves. When we interfere with others' gain of money, we also do not gain inspite of all our efforts. Those who with their tactics disturb domestic happiness of others, create separation between children and their parents, break open eggs, destroy haunting places or nests of animals and birds respectively contract these power-obscuring (Antaraya) Karmas.
Those who place obstacles in the worships of gods, preceptors and religious observances and perpetrate abominable acts like theft, violence, fraud, etc. contract power-obscuring (Antaraya) Karmas, and reap bitter consequences thereby.
Here we have completed the consideration of 'Cruel acts' (Ghati Karmas). Now we turn to non-cruel (Aghati) Karmas.
SPECIFIC CAUSES OF CONTRACTING FEELING PRODUCING (VEDANIYA)
KARMAS
Vedaniya Karmas have two varieties : Shată Vedaniya and Ashatā Vedanīya. The former Karmas beget happiness while the latter breed miseries.
Those who vanquish the sin, obstruct the advent of passions, and curb them, contract Shatā Vedanīya Karmas. Those who give in charity out of compassion to the deserving persons also contract the very Shatā Vedaniya Karmas. Sangamaka who with ardent feelings offered milk to the deserving monk realised his next existence as Shalibhadra, the son of Gobhadra, a wealthy merchant. Here he acquired unrivalled prosperities.
Person with flexible faith contracts Ashatā Vedaniya Karmas but one with firm conviction contracts Shatā Vedaniya Karmas. Vankachula observed four ordinary vows with firm conviction to earn heavenly existence in the 12th heaven. One having firm faith only can maintain firmness in religious observances. Therefore, one should keep up faith with all firmness and believe that the words of Lord Jina contain truth only, and thus Shatavedaniya Karmas are contracted.
