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Paramatma Prakash Commentary
49
Karmas, when they are ripe, give their fruits. When the fruits are being experienced, he who develops auspicious attitudes incurs the bondage of fresh Karmas. But that equanimous saint, who does not develop any attachment when experiencing the fruits of Karmas, incurs no bondage and his stock of Karman melts away (II. 79-80).
12. Mental and Moral Qualifications of an
Aspirant
This body, which is absolutely different in nature from the soul, deserves nothing but criticism (I. 13, etc., 71-2). It is all impure and easily perishable; it gets rotten when buried and is reduced to ashes when burnt; so nourishment and toilet are a m'ere waste (II. 147-48, etc.). It brings no happiness, but only misery, so an aspirant must be completely indifferent towards this body which is an enemy of the self (II. 151-53, 182, etc.) Attachment for everything external must be given up, and one must be completely engrossed in the nature of Atman (I. 15, 18). Vanity of physical and communal or social specialities has sway over only a foolish person (I. 80-3). All paraphernalia (parigrah), external and internal, like mother, house, pupil, etc., and like infatuation, etc., is a deceptive network that entraps and leads the Atman astray (I. 83, II. 87, etc.). To accept any paraphernalia after once it is given up is like eating the vomit (II. 91). Pursuing the paraphernalia with infatuation, the Atman revolves in Samsara (II. 122, etc.). When the body does not belong to oneself, what to say of other things; family is a network neatly decorated by Death (II. 144-45). Everything else such as body, temple, idol, scripture, youth, house, attendants, etc. besides the Atman is transitory; and as such one should not be attached to things other than the self (II. 129-32). Non-attachment is the highest virtue for a spiritual aspirant; so the mind must be curbed back from attachment, tastes and sights, etc., and concentrated on Paramatman (I. 32, II. 172). The aspirant, the great monk, should be free from
