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THE REFLECTIONS
river. The senses such as touch, sight and the rest plunge the wild elephant, the crow, the serpent, the bird, the deer and the rest into the ocean of misery. Similarly the passions also cause injury, bondage, disgrace, anguish and so on. And in the future they lead to different kinds of suffering in the four states of beings. Thus reflection on the calamity and distress caused by influx is contemplation on influx. This enables the self not to swerve from the wholesome attitudes of forbearance etc. And the evils originating from influx do not affect the self protected like the tortoise within the shell. (7)
If the hole in the keel of a vessel sailing on the ocean is not closed, then water enters the ship, and the passengers certainly go down. But if the hole is plugged, then the passengers reach their destination. Similarly if influx is stopped, then there can be no obstacle to emancipation. Thus reflection on the merit of stoppage of karmas is contemplation on stoppage. He who reflects in this manner constantly endeavours to stop influx. Naturally it leads to emancipation. (8)
Dissociation takes place after the fruition of karmas. It is of two kinds. One is involuntary and the other is by one's effort. The involuntary dissociation on the fruition of karmas, common to the four conditions of existence such as infernal beings, gives rise to a chain of evils. Dissociation by conquest of afflictions is by one's own effort. It gives rise to a chain of good or to no series. Thus reflection on the merits and demerits of dissociation is contemplation of dissociation. This impels one to destroy karmas. (9)
The structure of the universe has been described already. The universe is in the midst of the non-universe space which is endless. The contemplation of the nature of the universe develops true knowledge. (10)
In one minute living being there are organisms infinite times the emancipated souls. Thus the entire universe is densely filled with one-sensed beings with no interspace. To become a being with more than one sense is as difficult as finding out a very small piece of diamond buried in the sands of an Even among these most of them are endowed with
ocean.
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