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IV, 19. INTERVIEW BETWEEN FATHER AND SON. 223
dew) I offer now the Mahârâga; from accumulated deeds comes birth, and as the result of deeds comes recompense; 1558
Knowing then that deeds bring fruit, how diligent should you be to rid yourself of worldly deeds! how careful that in the world your deeds should be only good and gentle! 1559
'Fondly affected by relationship or firmly bound by mutual ties of love, at end of life the soul (spirit) goes forth alone,—then, only our good deeds befriend us.- 1560
Whirled in the five ways of the wheel of life, three kinds of deeds produce three kinds of birth ?, and these are caused by lustful hankering, each kind different in its character. 1561
'Deprive these of their power by the practice now of (proper) deeds of body and of word; by such right preparation day and night strive to get rid of all confusion of the mind and practise silent (contemplation); 1562
Only this brings profit in the end, besides this there is no reality; for be sure! the three worlds are but as the froth and bubble of the sea. 1563
Would you have pleasure, or would you practise that which brings it near ? then prepare yourself by
way of immortality;' of course it means 'immortality' (amritam) according to Buddhist ideas, that is, Nirvana. Childers tells us that Buddhaghosa says that Nirvana is called a mata, because not being born it does not decay or die' (Páli Dict., sub amatam). This definition of Nirvana is the usual one found in Chinese books, that state which admits neither of birth nor death.'
1 Referring to the three inferior kinds of birth, as a beast, a preta, or in hell.
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