________________
[ 296 )
traces of karma become gradually dissolved and at the end of all, the unity of consciousness sets in. It may also be remarked that the bright path passes through the sun and in the straight path there being no return to the earth, the dark path passes through moon and comes back to the earth. This path is not straight but is of the nature of a karma. Another important point which deserves to be remembered in this connection is that in all these cases of ascent or ascent and descent the human soul even when free from the body on death is not without a body altogether. In the language of Samkhya, this body is the Linga which persists through-out and does not disappear until perfect illumination takes place.
F
A close study of the doctrine of karma reveals the fact that karma in the sense of Adṛṣṭa or unseen moral force is a great force which has to be seriously studied. It is well-known that different karmas act upon each other or add to the accumulative strength of itself. A particular karma of a particular nature adds to the strength of the same karma done in the past. It is therefore clear that the karmaic forces may be increased by additions of the same karmaic force. In the same way a particular karma may be hostile in nature to another particular karma and tends to destroy it. The mere fact that a particular karma is of the nature of dharma does not imply that all similar karmas unless they are absolutely of the same nature should be added together in that strength. They may be or they may not be. In this way there is a heterogenous net of karmaic tangle in the human mind both conscious and subconscious. It is possible that a particular karm acts upon another karma in a friendly way or in a hostile manner. The philosophy of prayalcitta or penance depends on this fact. In the case of karmas therefore we notice that there may be hostile karmas or friendly karmas or karmas which are neutral. It is true that a karma unless it is acted upon some counter-force is never destroyed. The only legitimate way of the destruction of karma is to enjoy or suffer it coniequences without any complaint or
murmur,
*