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Chapter 11 : Pupil's Fourth Doubt regarding Bearing the Consequences of Karma
146
Without the existence of God, there cannot be
any order in the world; nor can there be places for bearing the consequences of wholesome and unwholesome Karma.
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Explanation & Discussion:
Just as there is the necessity of some agency to dispense justice, it is necessary to have the right places where different souls can bear the appropriate consequences of their Karma. For instance, there is a need for heavenly abodes, where virtuous souls can reap the fruits of their wholesome (Shubh) Karma and also for infernal (hell) abodes, where the vicious ones can bear the evil consequences of their unwholesome (Ashubh) Karma.
The provision and maintenance of such locations necessitates the assumption of God. Without Him, who can maintain such places and who would regulate life and other forces operating in the world? By presenting this question, the pupil contends that since there cannot be such a God, there is no case for souls to bear the consequences of Karma. He does not want to contend that the soul does not have to bear the consequences. He is aware that if the soul acquires Karma, it has to bear the consequence. However, he is not clear about the mode of its operation and has raised these questions for seeking clarifications.
The readers are in a position to note that the pupil has been raising very vital questions on all issues. They may also feel that he is actually giving vent to their own minds. That happens because these questions and answers are actually presented by Shrimad himself. In order to make the presentation meaningful and interesting, he presented the six Fundamentals in the form of dialogue between the pupil and the preceptor. Since Shrimad had pure self-realization, he knew what type of questions would occur to the truth seekers and presented the same accordingly.
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