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----- bhagap241.html
Bvahmandas or solar systems. Those who worship only material
objects remain chained to this earth. Those who worship the dwellers
of Bhuvar Loka (Bhutas, Pretas, Pisachas and Pitris) or cultivate
aspiration for them become allied to them and they pass only to Bhuvar
Loka after death. Those who worship the Devas and cultivate this
aspiration go to Svarga Loka after death. Those who worship
Hiranya-garbha go up to Satya or Brahma Loka. Those who wor-
ship the Lord of all Brahmandas pass beyond even the Brahmanda.
The first thing that a man should do is to transcend the limits
of Triloki. This he cannot do as long as he is self-seeking. He
should therefore perform his actions unselfishly. And the Lord said
as follows:
1. There is the perishable and the imperishable element in us.
Karma or actions appertain to the perishable element. The perishable
element constantly changes, so it cannot be our real self or Atma.
From the stand-point of our real self, we can dissociate ourselves
from our actions, which relate to our transitory nature. Here the
system of Sankhya came into requisition.
2. But by this discrimination, we can not forcibly stop the
performance of actions. For the actions are propelled by (a) active
tendencies which form an inseparable part of our present nature, and
(b} by the necessity of our very existence. So by stopping actions,
we force the tendencies to mental channels, and cause more mischief
by producing mental germs for the future. And we cannot stop all
actions, as some are necessary for our bare existence.
3. Therefore we are to perform actions, and we can perform
them unselfishly, if they are done from a pure sense of duty. We
are to take duty as a law of our very existence. Yajna is only an-
other name for this law. The Lord of beings, having created all
beings with the Yajna, said of yore, "You shall prosper by the per-
formance of this Yajna and this Yajna shall be the producer of all
desired objects for you." Yajna consists of mutual sacrifices, as all
beings are dependent on one another. " Think of the Devas by
means of Yajna, and the Devas shall think of you." All our actions
may be classed under duties duties which we owe to the Devas, the
Pitris, the sages, the animals and to other men. If we perform our
Karma for the sake of Yajna only, we perform it unselfishly,
4. As discrimination is useful in realising the real self, so res-
traint is necessary to put down the acquired self. The tendencies of
the acquired self, if left to themselves, prompt men to ever recurring
actions, which again produce their own effects, some of which develop
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