________________
91
the power to curb them must have learnt to do so in their previous life. They must have disciplined themselves that way. Those who do not keep their appetites under control now, and who have become slaves to their passions and desires must, therefore, be prepared to lose the organ of thought in their next life. They live their life in the senses, and in the senses they will wake up in the next one. They do not live the life of the mind,' and the mind (ie., the central organ of thought) will not be needed, and, consequently, formed by them in their next incarnation.
The soul is tied to the levers of movement in the central organ of the mind; but there is no direct connection between these and the buttons and switches of the sensory board. In the lower centres only is the sensation linked with motion. On the highest level of consciousness the mind enjoys the power of choice, of substituting one kind of action for another, even of inhibiting action itself. Direct connection between sensation and action is therefore lacking in the central region of the mind. But if one lead the life of a brute or abandon oneself completely to a sensualist's life, then a direct connection will soon be established between sensation and action, and the freedom of choice gone. The higher centres will both be atrophied for want of use and coarsened by the establishment of the direct connection between sensation and action. No one should expect
C
Jain Education International
THE TRUTH
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
