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157
Ätmasiddhi
Chapter 13 The Pupil's Fifth Doubt regarding Liberation
Here, the pupil raises the fundamental question of liberation. Most religions do not believe in ultimate liberation. Some religions treat heavenly life as a goal, but that life does not last forever. It can be retained only for a limited period. Some others consider abiding in proximity with God as liberation. Vedänt lays down the ultimate liberation, but that consists of the soul merging in the allpervading Brahman. It means that the soul ceases to have its individuality in that state. Seeking such liberation thus amounts to seeking one's own extinction. In that case, why would any one be inclined to seek it?
By now, the pupil has grasped the philosophy of Karma and stands convinced that the soul acquires Karma and bears the consequences. He is now concerned about liberation, which can free the soul from the misery and unhappiness of worldly existence. The question that arises in his mind is that, "If the soul goes on acquiring Karma, how can it be liberated?" It is observed that while bearing the consequences of earlier Karma, the worldly soul reacts favorably or unfavorably to those consequences and thereby begets new Karma. In that case how can there be any end to it? As such, the pupil feels that there cannot be any possibility of its liberation from the cycle of birth and death. That problem is presented in the following two stanzas.
કર્તા ભોકતા જીવ હો, પણ તેનો નહિ મોક્ષ; વીત્યો કાળ અનંત પણ, વર્તમાન છે દોષ.
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