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DISCOURSE XXIX
KARANA (INSTRUMENT)
Gentlemen,
You have been explained with illustrations and arguments about the identity of Karma, its power, its way of contracting bondages and general and specific causes of these bondages so by now you have become quite conversant with the nature of Karmas; still however topic of Karmas is very wide and there are many aspects yet left out which deserve to be understood; so we proceed further with the same subject.
When Karmic molecules come in contact with the soul they are called 'Karmas'. Then we say, we are bound by Karmic bondages. At the very time of the creation of these bondages, nature, time, tendency and number of foldings of the rise of Karma are also determined. Karmas which are not rigid (Anikachita) can be modified to some extent before they rise to allot their fruits. To explain to you this fact, we have handled this subject of 'Karana' (instrument).
You might doubt why we normally believe that one cannot escape the fruits of acts already committed, but this fact remains true only with frigid actions' (Nikachita). Baddha and Sprusta bondages can be certainly modified with mental resolves. Karmas with Nidhatta bonds also can be affected in respect of their state and tendency by means of mental resolves.
If Karmas contracted previously cannot be affected then all souls are nothing but dice on the chessboard and the Soul has act only as if guided by the Karmas. In that case personal efforts will have no scope, because despite your any amount of efforts you shall reap the rewards as and when destined. Then religious vows, self-restraints, japas, penances and meditations serve no purpose. But this is not a fact. If the Soul makes efforts and uses the power of his auspicious resolves then it can explode the fortress of Karmas and can even shatter it to ruins. Therefore the man has to proceed on the path of religious vows, self restraints, japas, penances and meditation.
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