The Truth

Author(s): O P Jain
Publisher: Veer Nirvan Granth Prakashan Samiti

Page 48

THE SEVEN TATTVAS
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causes, the real cause being the karmas. The external causes are merely the tools and provide a means through which the karmas act.
3. Vedaniya : These karmas are responsible for sensual pleasures and pains and obstruct the natural attribute of bliss of the soul which does not depend upon senses.
Activities giving rise to pleasure-bearing karma prakritis are:
(i) Compassion for ali living beings, (ii) Charity, (iii) Self control of senses, (iv) Restraint of self by practising vows, (v) Bearing effects of past karmas (destiny) with equanimity, (vi) Yoga i.e., Contemplation, (vii) Forgiveness, (viii) Contentment.
Pain-bearing karmic matter is due to the following activities:
(i) Feeling of pain, (ii) Feeling of sorrow, (iii) weeping, (iv) Remorse, (v) Depriving of vitality of others e.g., killing or removal of limbs etc., (vi) Pathetic moaning to attract compassion.
Causing the above mental states in self or in others are both responsible for attracting pain-bringing karmas.
. 4. Mohaniya: These karmas obstruct faith in true knowledge of tattvas and come in the way of right conduct needed for the soul to purity itself.
Faith is an attitude of mind and is a leaning towards a group of ideas. It arises from conviction about the correctness of knowledge. Conviction may result from experience or through reasoning. It may change with changing experiences, unless the facts are reconciled by study, investigation and reasoning.
Wrong faith is centred round the welfare of lower ego. Whoever and whatever is stated to be helpful to fulfill our desires and passions is readily believed and accepted as a patron or protector. The practice of sacrifice before gods and the expensive rituals are an example of this belief. The thoughtless are ever seeking a response from their patron in the favourable occurrences of daily life, and are never slow to turn the most logically natural causations into a mark of divine favour. Such a mind is fast travelling on the high road to fanaticism.