________________
92
THE WAY OF LIFE
The income does not increase if you act uprightly. Therefore, you endeavour to earn money by immoral and illicit means and you fall into the vicious circle. Are you not entangled in it ? : Have not your sorrows and worries increased ?
KARMA IS THE BASIS FOR HAPPINESS AND SORROW
Think a little with a calm mind. Who would be poor in this world if wealth could be attained by immoral and illicit means? Are all people who adopt immoral and illicit means affluent? Are those who carry on their occupation uprightly poor? Is this condition prevailing in this world? Can you see such a thing in the world? There is another reason for attaining wealth and that is the basic reason. To-day, I will explain to you what that reason is. In order to explain that reason, I have to describe the philosophy of Karma a little. Probably, you do not know the philosophy of Karma. Actually Karma is the basis for all happiness and sorrow in life. From times immemoral, the jivatma has been enveloped, overwhelmed and deeply interfused with Karmas.
From the Audience : When was the soul bound by Karmas?
Maharajashri : Just as the soul is without a beginning, the soul's union with Karmas is also without a beginning. The soul was not devoid of Karmas at anytime and it was not pure at anytime. It can become totally free from Karmas. It is not an easy thing to free the soul from Karmas. Only after the Jivatma makes repeated endeavours through countless generations can the soul become absolutely pure.
Though the Karmas are countless, there are eight main kinds of Karmas. They are :
1. Gnanavaran (The Karma that envelops knowledge) 2. Darshanavaran (The Karma that envelops and im
pedes true vision) 3. Mohaniya (The Karma that brings about the infatua
tion of attachment and hatred) 4. Antharaya (The Karma that impedes power and
efficacy)
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
