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Atma-Siddhi
183
Is Soul Enjoyer?
(Verses 79-86) The disciple expresses doubt in these verses regarding soul as enjoyer and who decides the fruits of karmas. He says that soul may be the doer of karmas, but it cannot be the enjoyer. Also, how lifeless matter can know what fruits of a particular karma will be for the doer. God does not inspire karmas (as indicated in the previous section) and therefore He cannot be the fruit-giver. If He does so, he would not be God. Moreover God's existence and world's condition are both questionable, then why bother about the fruits of good and bad actions.
The true teacher tries to explain that through own vibrancy and in association with karmic matter, whatever soul feels and imagines it begets that kind of body (and engages in good and bad karmas). Just as poison or nectar do not know their effects, but the eater begets them. Soul, similarly, begets the fruits of good and bad actions. Never anything happens without a reason, but is the result of good or bad karmas. That is why one is seen as poor and another one as rich. It is not necessary to think of God as the doer of karmus or giver of their fruits, karmas fructify through own nature and are exhausted after their fruits are borne. The true teacher indicates that here the enjoying/suffering of the fruits of karmas through their inherent nature has been described. This subject matter is very deep and has been spoken of briefly.30
It can be easily understood that credit or discredit of an undertaken act goes to the responsible agent. If soul does karmas, then soul has to enjoy or suffer their consequences. Fruits of the karmas have to be enjoyed or suffered by all bonded souls, with body, mind, and senses as instruments. But the fruits, at times, do not manifest themselves instantly or even in the same birth. That is why some pious people are seen miserable in present life and some rogues are seen comfortable and prospering. These results are temporary and hammer ultimately does fall on the culprit. Liberation simply means that the fruits of karmas cease to have an impact on soul.
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