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I am the Soul Karma bandha is equivalent to papa-bandha. He is unaware that within the purview of Karma-bondage, the Punya-bandha is also included. Now when it is said that all Dharma-activity leads to Karma-bandha, it implies that there is bound to be Punya-bandha.
If while doing this Dharma-activity, there is no awareness of the soul, then there is Punya-bandha, and if for as many moments as you are stationed in the awareness of the soul, there will be karma-Nirjara. In fact, all this activity is only for achieving Nirjara, but so long as the jiva cannot settle in the awareness of the soul, it binds Punya. The jiva has to strive towards remaining in the awareness of the soul for longer time and attain Nirjara through the means of all Dharma-vows and vratas. But it is not right, even if Nirjara is not attained, to discard practice believing that it leads to karma-bandha. But gullible people believe that this has been said by the learned one, and whatever the learned one says cannot be false. Hence practice should be dropped. Thus by giving up the practice, they are left without the means.
Brothers! How can there be devoted practice without the means? And how can the ultimate success be achieved without devoted practice? In practical life too, if something has to be achieved, means are essential. Why! Even if one of the means is short, the work will not be done as it should be. My sisters here are all expert cooks. If everything else is available and there is no stove, can anything be done? An what happens if the required vessels are missing? Thus for a work to be completed whatever and how much ever material is required, should be available. Similarly, if atma is to be achieved then the means to do so, both external and internal, are a must. If we toe the same line as the ones who say that practice is worth discarding and do so, then Srimadji says, it is as good as tying a weight around the neck and sinking to death. Both the weight and the self sinks. Brothers! Those who get into the company of such wizened wise also sink.
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