Page:The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago.djvu/241

Rh six kinds: men, gods, good-spirits, infernal beings, beasts and ghosts. According to their good and evil deeds they are born and, from the time of their conception, they enjoy pleasure and pain in due time, and corresponding to the accumulated effect of their deeds (Karma).

“What are evil deeds? listen thou fair maid who wearest choice bracelets! Killing, theft and adultery which are the three sins of the restless body: lying, slander, abuse and vain conversation, which are the four sins of speech: covetousness, malice and scepticism, which are the three sins of the mind: These ten (sins) wise men who know the effect (of their deeds) will avoid. If they do not avoid them they would be born as beasts, demons, or inhabitants of the lower worlds, and be distracted by sorrow.

“What are good deeds? (They are as follow): to avoid the above-mentioned ten (sins); to observe the rules of purity: and above all to practice charity. Those who do these good deeds will be born in the three higher forms of birth that is as gods, human-beings, or good spirits and enjoy pleasure according to (the measure of) their good deeds.

Consciousness is like the perception of men in sleep, and is not affected by the senses.

Name and Form are the conceptions of (one’s own) life and body arising out of that consciousness.

The six gates (or senses) are the organs through which impressions are made on consciousness.

Contact is the approach of consciousness to outside object through the senses.

Sensation is the feeling created in consciousness by external objects.

Desire is the wish for more of (a particular) sensation.

Attachment is the bond created by desire.

Existence is the life (we lead) being the sum of our deeds of consciousness drawn by attachment.

Birth is the appearance in an organised body which is the effect of former deeds.

Disease is the falling off from the natural (healthy) state and the advent of pains in the body: Old age is the weakness which