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130 into high status class. If they have been offering philanthropic services to the society, they commanded honour and social power also.
Thus, genetic, social, cultural and economic factors are indirectly mentioned in the commentaries which are what psychologists have also observed for building up status of individuals. Religion and environment may be taken as additional factors not specifically mentioned here. The scientific and industrial age has been able to increase the number of high status people to a large extent indicating the increasing destruction-cum-subsidence of status-determining karma in twentieth century.
9. It is clear from the above that the status-determining karma is intimately related with physique-making karma and life-span determining karma. All the three are non-destructive (of the qualities of soul) karmas. 10. The commentaries do mention the high or low status of different classes as above. However, they have not mentioned about the status of saints, ascetics and other paragons involved in their spiritual upliftment and guide of the society. Barring few fraudulents in this class, they should be treated as belonging to the category of high status individuals.
The two varieties of status-determining karma have been described. The obstructive karma follows it. What are its sub-species? The next aphorism mentions them : DANA-LĀBHA-BHOGA-UPABHOGA-VIRYĀNĀM. 8.13.
There are five sub-species of obstructive karma: (1) donationobstructing, (2) gains-obstructing, (3) consummable-enjoyment obstructing, (4) non-consummable-enjoyment obstructing and (5) energy or potency-obstructing. 8.13.
1. The word 'obstructing' (Antarāya) should be supplied here and each of the term in the aphorism should be referred to it, such as donation-obstructing, gains-obstructing etc. 2. The obstructive karma is the cause of (physical or mental) impediment in offering donations, acquiring gains etc. Thus, due to the realisation of this karma, the living beings are (1) unable to donate despite desire for it, (2) unable to acquire or attain gains even though they desire and make efforts for them, (3) unable to enjoy
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