________________
Kama-Its Operation and an Appraisal
21
Then I can by the will, the Energy of the idea in me, develop the form of what I«m ind arrive at the barmony of some greater idea than is expressed in mv picant mould and balance 'I can aspire to a nobler expansion Suill the idea is a thing in itself without any base but its own spontaneous power
(3) But I am soul developing and persisting in the Paths of Universal Encrgy and that in myself is the seed of all creation What I have become I have made myself by Sou's pidat idea and actiun, its mner and outer Karma, what I will be, I can make myself by the present and future idea of action
(4) Finally there is this supreme liberating step that both Idea and its Kuruur way have their origin in the free spirit and by arriving at myself by esperience and sull finding, I can cxalt my state beyond all bondage vi Karna tu spiritual freedon. These are the four pillars of the complete theory of kirmas
The relure the karma theory is on explanation of the moral justice in the Universe i s the conception of an all-controlling law of natural retribulion which links together the successive earth lives of cach individual soul It 'satisfied my sense of justice and brow light on the probleni ot unme mited suffering for the modern European, Karina theory is not the mechanical idea of an identical soul substance passing from body to body, but the mysticul idea of suffering with and for others', and that forms the real altiaction of the doctrine And perhaps that may be the true explanation of its ascendancy in the East as well 66
Judged by the bistoric standards, the Karma theory did niuch to raise mali's status and to wean buin noin coaxing gous through sacrifice and prayer It insisted on individual expiation, and emphasised the moral continuity of life here and hereafter 17
Kurma is in fact a striking answer to the 'fathonless 10 justice to the nature of things' and it appeals 'lu the overpowering sense of the necessity of justice' The conception of an all controlling 'law of natural retribution which links together the successive earth lives of each individual soul, both satisfied my seuse of justice and threw light on the problem of seemingly uomerited suflering '89
54 55 56 57
Sri Aw obindo The Problem of Rebirth (Pondicherry, 1952), p 115 Pringle-Pattison (A Seth) The Idea of Innmortality p 122 Paul (CS) The Suffering Gad (1929) P 67 Holmes (Edmond) The rest of an Ideal p 98, as quoted in the idea of Immortality by Pringle Patton, p 120 Warren (
H C.) Buddhism in Translations (1922) p 48
58
