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THE SACRED BOOKS OF THE JAINAS.
the Acharyas, charity, and study of scriptureg. in order to keep away Pramada or lines of thoughts and deeds not beneficial for souladvancement. Such good deeds are performed with the object of self-improvement and not for the gratification of sense desire. There is however a constant effort for attaining the high status of self-absorption.
सोवरिणयहि णियलं वंधदि कालायसं च जह पुरिसं। वंधदि एवं जीवं सुहमसुहं वा कदं कम्मं ॥ १५३ ॥ सौवर्णिकमपि निगलं बध्नाति कालायसमपि च यथा पुरुषं । बध्नात्येवं जीवं शुभमशुभं वा कृतं कर्म ॥ १५३ ॥
153. A gold fetter binds a person as much as an iron one. Similarly good or bad deeds performed, whether good or bad (both) bind the soul (with karmas).
Commentary. Passionate thought-activity and soul-vibration cause bondage of Karma, good or bad. Both are bondages, hindering the purity and freedom of soul. Merit bondage is like fetters made of gold and the demerit bondage like iron fetters.
तह्मादु कुसीलेहिय रायं माकाहि माव संलग्गं । साहीणो हि विणासो कुसीलसंसग्गरायेहि ॥ १५४ ॥ तस्मात्तु कुशीलैः रागं मा कुरु मा वा संसर्ग । स्वाधीनो हि विनाशः कुशीलसंसर्गरागाभ्याम् ॥ १५४ ॥
154. And therefore do not have either attachment or association with (both of these) evil-disposed (karmas). (Because) certainly by association and attachment with these evil-disposed (karmas) independence shall be destroyed.
Commentary. Good karmas also are obstacles to the higher and purer status of soul purity. A right believer in the 4th stage of vowless right belief, or in the 5th stage of partial vows, or in the 6th stage of imperfect vows, has to perform many good deeds of charity, devotion service, etc., but he does not believe these good deeds as real causes of liberation. He knows them as causing bondage of merit karma. He does not perfor n those good deeds for the sake
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