Page 163 - Courage Redifined

Hence scriptures say that, “The onset of the Mohaniya
Karmas leads to feelings of anger, pride, etc., but the efforts
to nullify its effect is in our hands. Think rationally about the
disadvantages of anger and stop the efforts in that direction,
i.e. Don’t let anger take control of your thoughts, actions
or speech. This will ensure that the negative feelings and
karmas leading to anger get nullified. If purushartha is not an
independent working factor different from karmas how can
this become possible ?

Q. : What about the case of Nandishena ? Did karmas lead to
the downfall of the saint wherein he engaged in physical
relations with a prostitute ?

A. : This is said in a general sense. But it you think rationally
you will realise that karma just led to the rise of his desire
for physical indulgence, but his desire was so intense that
his right efforts could not overcome them. The sinful
thoughts, romantic conversation with the prostitute and
the physical relations were all done using the strength
of the soul which is termed purushartha.

Karma can lead to the desires for sins and can also give us
a strong mind, tongue and body to experience them, but it
cannot push or insist us to indulge in the sinful acts. The
individual does this on his own.
If karmas lead us to the acts of the body mind and tongue,
can’t the karmas enable us to do all that is required to attain
salvation ? No. Salvation is possible only by the complete
elimination of all karmas. Then who can enable one to perform
the positive acts which can lead to salvation ? Of course, the
individual purushartha is responsible for the wrong acts which
lead to karmas sending an individual to the dungeons of hell
and other low births. You have to admit that it is the wrong
efforts of the individual which leads to this.
Harmony of the 5 Causes 153