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Chapter 12: Guru's Explanation of the Soul Bearing the Consequences
ઝેર
સુધા સમજે નહીં, જીવ ખાય ફળ થાય; એમ શુભાશુભ કર્મનું, ભોકતાપણું જણાય.
Zer Sudhä Samaje Nahin, Jiv Khay Fal Thay; Em Shubhäshubh Karmanun, Bhoktäpanun Janäy.
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Poison and nectar do not understand, but one who consumes them gets their results; similarly a soul bears the consequences of its wholesome or unwholesome Karma. - 83
Explanation & Discussion:
The pupil had pointed out that Karma is lifeless, and does not understand how to extend the right consequences. Here the pupil's concept about the incapability of lifeless matter may, prima facie, seem reasonable, but it is not true. If we minutely observe, it can be noticed that every object is imbibed with some visible or invisible activity. All the objects that we come across are seen as undergoing change. New ones get old and worn; they change in size, shape, color, odor, and taste; they break, crack, and collapse. Visible and invisible forces are continually at work for bringing out such changes.
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Lifeless objects do not have a specific plan to bring out any particular change. For instance, a flowing river does not have any plan to give the round shape to a rough stone. Being in
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