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DISCOURSE 32
109
Man can determine the kind of state, of the four states that he can enter in the next life. The four states are:
1. The Devagathi or the state of heavenly life. 2. Manushyagathi or the state of human life. 3. Tiryanchagathi or the state of animals and birds; and
4. Narakagathi or life in hell. The Ayushya Karma of one of these states of existence binds man in this existence. When does it bind us? You should not ask this question. Even those who bind themselves with some Ayushya Karma cannot know when and which Ayushya Karma binds them. The Ayushya Karma can bind man at any moment in his life. The jivatma cannot die until the Ayushya Karma of the future state of existence binds him. This principle applies to all jivatmas in whatever state they may be existing, at present. It is common to all jivatmas. The jivatmas existing in all the four states can thus be bound by the Ayushya Karma of the future state.
The heavenly beings, the gods and goddesses cannot bind themselves with the Ayushya Karma of the state of existence in hell. The inhabitants of hell cannot be bound by the Ayushya Karma of heavenly existence or the existence in hell. The heavenly beings after their death can be born as human beings or as animals and birds. The inhabitants of hell after their death can be born as human beings or animals and birds; man can be born in any of the four states. This is the special ability that man has. Please tell me in which state you would like to be born or in which state you would not like to be born.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ?
From the Audience: Of course, our desire is to attain a better state of existence but we doubt whether we can attain any better state of existence.
Maharajashri : So, do you like to be born in a low state in your next life? Would you like to be an inhabitant of hell ? Would you like to be born as an animal or a bird ? Do you know the nature of Narakayoni or of the birth in hell ? Do
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