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THE DOCTRINE OF KARMA
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Vedaniya-Karma
The fourth kind af aghāti Karina is called vedaniya Karma which determines the painful and pleasurable experiences of an individual. The two Karmas which cause pleasant feeling and unpleasant feeling, respectively, are the two sub-types of feeling producing Karmas. 26 The Karma is of two kinds : sātā-vedaniya, and asåtā-Vedaniya.
Sātā-Vedaniya Karma is the result of influx of Karına which creates pleasant and happy experiences both in mind and body of the celestial and the human beings and animals. The activities which lead to the influx of this Karma as stated by Umāsvām; are : compassion towards living beings in general and the devout in particular, charity, asceticism with attachment, etc., (that is restraint-cum-non-restraint, involuntary dissociation of Karmas without effort, austerities not based on right knowledge), contemplation, equanimity and freedom from greed, 27 All living beings are born in differeut conditions of existence according to their Karmas. There are some who become aware of the nature of soul and become devoted to vows, austerities and other acts of compassion. They reduce their wordly attachments and are generous in helping others. They express sympathy for the sufferings of others and do what they can to relieve them. They restrain themselves from undesirable activities. All these activities of mind and conduct lead to the influx of Karmas that bring about pleasant feelings.
The Asātā-Vedaniya Karmas which are the causes of unpleasant or painful feelings are due to suffering, sorrow, agony, moaning, injury and lamentation in oneself, others or in both. 28 All these experiences of pain and suffering are the results of passions like anger, greed, etc. They create a feeling of sadness because of want of self control, injury to person or property, disgrace suffered by immoral deeds or speech and cravings for things which are either undesirable or unwanted. There is no suffering where there is no passion. Many austerities are practised by devout persons; they involve no suffering because they are
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