z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 03.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 175
CALL FROM HOME
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—what need then is there of the effort of the conscious soul ? That which is the cause of the action of the world, is also determined as the cause of its ceasing to act.
“Some say that the coming into being and the destruction of being are alike caused by the soul, but they say that coming into being arises without effort, while the attainment of liberation is by effort.
“A man discharges his debt to his ancestors by begetting offspring, to the saints by sacred lore, to the gods by sacrifices ; he is born with these three debts upon him,—whoever has liberation (from these), he indeed has liberation.
“Thus by this series of rules the wise promise liberation to him who uses effort ; but however ready for effort with all their energy, those who seek liberation will find weariness.
“Therefore, gentle youth, if thou hast a love for liberation, follow rightly the prescribed rule ; thus wilt thou thyself attain to it, and the king’s grief will come to an end.
“And as for thy meditations on the evils of life ending in thy return from the forest to thy home,— let not the thought of this trouble thee, my son,—those in old time also have returned from the forests to their houses.” He mentioned Ambarish Drumakesha, Rama and others.
§ 7. The Buddha’s Determination
Then having heard the affectionate and loyal words of the minister, who was as the eye of the king,—firm in his resolve, the king’s son made his answer, with nothing omitted or displaced, neither tedious nor hasty:
“This doubt whether anything exists or not, is not to be solved for me by another’s words ; having determined the truth by asceticism or quietism, I will myself grasp whatever is the truth concerning it.
“It is not for me to accept a theory which depends on the unknown and is all controverted, and
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