Beyond Doubt

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

Page 92

Papa tattva" what is the need to believe or take into account the element of 'Punya'?
The Lord replied, "In the Vedic verse, the 'Purusha' has been given utmost importance and is described to be immortal, but none of the other truths have been denied in the verse. Though 7 Punya tattva has not been referred to in the tenet, it has also not been said that it does not exist at all. If it were not a reality, the latter sentence "guer: questa a m I
would not have been written. Just as evil deeds result in sin, good deeds result in fortune and merit. The Atman is eternal but wanders in the world taking many forms which perish after some time. It experiences the fruit of its karma which it has earned in the previous births. Whatever deeds a person performs in one's life, Layers in the form of Punya and Papa get accumulated in the soul. In the next birth, the soul remains the same, but the body is of a total new origin. The soul carries to the next birth the layers of accumulated Karma. When the meritorious deeds bear fruit, the soul experiences pleasure and when the evil deeds are ripened the person experiences pain and suffering. One has to experience the fruit of both Punya and Papa. The former is compared to a golden chain and the latter is compared to an iron shackle. Both keep the soul bound to the wheel of Samsara'.
Dust particles stick to the person who applies oil on his body and sits in the open air. In the same way righteousness and sin are like the dust particles that stick to the soul in the form of Karma. One who is free from attachment and aversion need not fear the bondage of Karma because Karma does not bind one who is free from them.
945
Samsara
world