Soul Science Part 02

Author(s): Parasmal Agrawal
Publisher: Kundakunda Gyanpith

Page 40

Virtue and Vice (Punya and Pāpa)
hell are equal? Answer: The analogy given in verse 146 incorporates inequality as
well as equality. In this verse Ācārya Kundakunda gives an analogy of shackles of gold and iron. No doubt, a gold shackle is more valuable and attractive than an iron shackle but as regards arresting a person a shackle is a shackle. It does not make much difference whether the shackle is made of gold or iron. The Ācārya wants to say that the freedom or eternal bliss is possible only when the soul is neither bonded by auspicious Karma (gold shackle) nor by inauspicious Karma (iron
shackle). Question: You may call it a gold shackle but would it not be good
to be in heaven with a lot of pleasantries? If I am given a choice, I would love to enjoy that gold shackle forever. To be honest, sometimes I realize that I am not even interested in thinking about the next life. If I can have peace and comforts
in this present life then also I would be satisfied. Answer: (i) As per scriptures, one cannot have abode in heaven
forever. The scriptures also say that almost all of us might have been in heaven, as well as hell, for millions and billions of times in previous lives. Further, according to the scriptures, the sensual comforts in heavens do not guarantee the mental peace. A lack of mental peace exists in heavens also. Here one may argue that scriptures also reveal that after some high positions in heavens a soul gets liberation immediately after the next birth in the human life. This may indicate that such high positions guarantee the liberation. But it may be noted that such high positions are attained by SamyagDșști, i.e., by those who neither have any ownership (inner attachment) with auspicious Karma and inauspicious Karma nor do they consider themselves as the doer of auspicious Karma and inauspicious Karma (e.g. stanzas 19, 35, 75, 77,