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Another difficulty may be considered here. It may be argued that sun, moon, etc. may not be abodes; the sun may be just à ball of fire, the moon may be just pure water; and thus the jyotişka vimānas (abodes) may be just balls made of shining gems. But it is not so; they are decidedly vimānas, because like the abodes of the vidyādharas they are made of gems and move in the sky. Clouds and wind are not vimānas as they are not made of gems (1872).
Sun, moon, etc. cannot also be illusory fabrics projected by some magician. Even if they are such, we will have to recognise the existence of gods who would be the magicians projecting this illusion, for men could not have brought it about. But it is not proper to regard sun, moon, etc. as illusory, because like cities like Pataliputra they are always found while a magical illusion is not found to be permanent, it disappears after a short time. So sun, moon, etc. are as real as Pāțaliputra and other cities (1873). " Still another reason may be adduced to prove the existence of gods. People who commit very great sins go to hell to experience the fruit of their sinful actions and the existence of denizens of hell is accordingly recognised. Similarly those who perform highly virtuous actions must be recognised as becoming gods to enjoy the fruits of their actions. It is true that we see men and lower creatures whose condition is highly miserable and as such they are experiencing the fruit of their sinful actions, and at the same time there are men who are very happy and so may be looked upon as enjoying the fruit of their virtuous actions. Then why should one posit the existence of denizens of hell and of gods whom we cannot see? But there is a difference. We never see anyone on this earth experiencing unalloyed pain or unalloyed pleasure; there is always an adulteration however small of pleasure or pain as the case may be. Very happy persons suffer from some disease of the body or on account of the pain resulting from old age, etc., while even the very miserable have a tinge of pleasure in their lives at some time, e. g. enjoyment of a cool breeze. Hence we have to 22
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