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ESSAYS AND ADDRESSES
"For every man shall bear his own burden."
The next two verses also propound the same doctrine :
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked : for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption ; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
No doubt, the man of the world, ignorant of the nature of his soul and of its high destiny, under the deluding influence of the karmic force, looks upon the world as a beautiful sight, capable of gratifying his senses in diverse ways; but Religion has ever pointed out that it is the real source of corruption. Like a harlot that always runs after new admirers and throws them off when tired of them, the world is the seducer of souls, defiling and corrupting them in various ways and in different degrees, and preventing them from turning in the direction of Light which implies everlasting Life. Perpetually and continually are her admirers devoured by her terrible consort, Death, and continually they are made to reappear again on the world-stage to be the plaything of this chief of whores. Notice the caustic style of the apostle when he says (James iv. 4) :--
"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."
In John's first Epistle it is said (Chap. ii. 15--17) :"Love not the world, neither the things that are insthe world. “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
“For all that is in the world, the lust of flesh, and the lust of eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
The world, then, is set in a direction diametrically opposite to the Spiritual Path, and he who wishes to pursue the latter will have to deny himself all the pleasure that its goods can afford to the senses. This is renunciation which must culminate in asceticism of the severest type, such as is described in the Jaina Scriptures.
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