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intoxicating liquor, so also matter present co-exten. sive with the self becomes transformed into karmic matter owing to the presence of activities and passions. (Reality p. 218). ! Wben the husk of paddy is removed from it, the rice loses its power of sprouting; likewise when the husk of karmic molecules is severed from the mundane soul, the resulting Perfect Jiva cannot be enchained by the regermination of karmas The nature of soul, entangled in the cob-web of trapsmigration can be understood easily, when we divert our attention to the impure gold found in a mine. The association of filth with golden ore is without beginning, but when the foreign matter is burnt by fire with various chemicals the resulting pure gold glitters; in the like manner the fire of right belief, right knowledge and right conduct destroys the karmic bondage in no time. If the fire of Selfabsorption is intense the work of destruction can be completed within a span of 48 minutes. This point is made clear by the example of sun's rays, which when converged on one point ignite fire, but when they diverge they do not exhibit the power of burning. The destruction of karmas in the fire of self-absorption does not mean annihilation of the atoms, but it denotes the dissociation of karmic molecules from the soul. Democritus said, “Ex-nihilo nihil et in nihilum nihil potest re verti." Nothing can ever become something nor can something become nothing. This principle is cośroborated by the Hindu scripture Gita also (2-16).
