Book Title: Practice of Karma Yoga
Author(s): Swami Sivananda
Publisher: Divine Life Society

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Page 243
________________ GARLAND OF KARMA YOGA wrought. Mind is more powerful than the Indriyas. Mind is the commander. Reason is more powerful than the mind. Even if the mind brings a message into the mental factory by its association with the Indriyas, the pure reason can reject it altogether. Reason is more powerful than the mind. Behind reason is the Self who is the director and witness of reason and who is superior to reason Desire is of a highly complex and incomprehensible nature. Therefor, it is very diffcult to be eradicated or conquered. But with the help of pure reason all desires can be eventually destroyed. There is no doubt of this. Then you will get knowledge of the Atman which brings immortality, supreme peace and eternal bliss. The cause of human suffering is Avidya or ignorance. Sri Sankara holds the view that it is the knowledge of Brahman only that is capable or eradicating the ignorance of human beings Others hold the view that the pursuit of the knowledge of the Self should be accompanied by the performance of Vedic and Smarta rites This view is known as the Samuchchaya-Vada, because the theory entails a conjunction of two means for the realization of one end. They bring the illustration of the bird Just as a bird necessarily needs two wings for flying up in the sky, so the individual soul also requires both knowledge and action to enable him to attain Moksha or the final beatitude and that neither the one nor the other is sufficient singly for that purpose 239

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