| Every motion of the mind deals a stroke
with chisel and mallet, whether one wants it or not, on one's own character and its
evolution is made better or worse thereby. If I think evil today, I think it more readily
and persistently tomorrow and likewise am it with good thoughts. If I control or calm
myself, it becomes more spontaneous, more easy next time; and this goes on progressively.
At death, the Hindu doctrine says, whatever
character has been hammered out by the thoughts and deeds and repentances of the life that
is closed continues to attach itself as- the initial start of character for the Soul in
its next journey. Karma is not Fatalism. It is not an arbitrary and external agency, which
makes personal effort of no avail. On the contrary, the theory places one's evolution in
one's own hands completely, and even death does not interfere with the progress of effort.
We shall revert to this aspect of Karma in Chapters VII and VIII. |
