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The soul is held by three impurities: Anavam, the darkness of "I" and "mine"; Kanmam, the fruits of our deeds; and Mayai, the stuff of body and world.
The bond from the last teaching has three strands. Together they are called the , "the three impurities".
✦Anavam: the darkness of "I"
is the first and deepest impurity. It is the soul's inborn darkness: the feeling of "I" and "mine" that makes the soul think it is the centre of everything. It has been with the soul from beginningless time. It is the first to cling and the last to go.
✦Kanmam: our deeds and their fruits
is karma: the good and bad actions of body, speech and mind, and the fruits they bring. Because the soul says "I did this, this is mine", every deed leaves a seed, and every seed must one day be tasted as pleasure or pain. Kanmam grows out of Anavam.
✦Mayai: body and world
is the stuff from which bodies and worlds are made. It binds, because it pulls us outward. But in Siddhanta it is also a mercy. Without a body and a world, the soul would sit in total darkness, unable to act or learn at all.
Anavamclosest to the soul; without beginning; first to cling, last to go.
Kanmamour deeds and their fruits; grows out of Anavam.
Mayaibody and world, given in mercy; lets a little light in.
Anavam lies closest to the soul, and Kanmam grows over it. Mayai, the outer layer, is open: through body and world a little light reaches the soul, and slowly wears Anavam down.
Both pulls are felt: the soul is ripening.
Two pulls act on the soul: Siva draws it towards grace, the bond holds it to the world. Move the soul to see what each place means. The soul is never pulled out of existence either way; what changes is which hold prevails.Check your understanding3 questions on this teaching. Answer them to light its lamp on the hill.+
Words from this teaching
This teaching's lamp is not yet lit
Answer the few questions under "Check your understanding" to light it on the hill, then walk on.