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Endurance
(Song of an ascetic—Story of Avanti Brahmin)
If the Atman or one’s own Self is the cause of pleasure and pain, evidently nothing in that case happens from another. In that case the cause is one’s own nature, pleasure and pain are of the essence of itself, because there is nothing besides the Atman. If there be, it must be unreal. Therefore how could there be then any occasion for anger? With whom should one become angry? There is neither pleasure nor pain. Atman only really exists.
If the planets be the cause of pleasure and pain, what have they then to do with Atman who is unborn, because the planets affect the body only? Further, one planet exercise an adverse influence on another planet. The Atman is entirely different from either the planet or the body. With whom then should one become angry?
If work be the cause of pleasure and pain, how can it affect or touch the pure, actionless and Immortal Atman, because work is possible to any agency which happens to be unintelligent and intelligent? But the body is unintelligent and the Atman is pure intelligence. Therefore Karma which is supposed to be the cause for pleasure and pain does not existatall.Then with whom should one become angry?
If Time be the cause of pleasure and pain, how can it affect the Atman, because Atman is Himself Time. Certainly fire cannot be adversely affected by heat, nor snow by cold. The pairs of opposites cannot affect the immortal Atman which is beyond them. Therefore who should be angry with whom?
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