Bondage and Freedom

Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Divine Knowledge Society

Page 89

Acting under its own free will, it can break the heaviest fetters of this Karma. It implies, that to a considerable extent, by positive application of one's own free will, the soul is indeed the lord of its own fate.
Good deeds that spring from love, compassion, charity, hospitality and selfless service secure the basis of happiness, whereas bad or undesirable deeds will sow the seeds of future sorrow.
Life existed before this birth and will continue to do so after death. It is here, on this shore, and will be there, on the opposite shore, too. In between is the flow of birth and death. Because of karma and attachments the soul has to revolve in the cycle of birth and death.
Bhagwan Mahavira while explaining the true nature of the soul said:
"The nature of the soul is like that of a hollow gourd, i.e. it keeps afloat. But when this hollow gourd is given several coats of clay, then, even though its inherent capacity is to keep afloat, it will sink.
Similarly, a soul coated with violence, falsehood, dishonesty, intemperance, anger, pride, bypocrisy and greed becomes heavy; despite its original virtue to keep afloat, it sinks to the bottom.