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PATANJALI YOGA SUTRA

The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali

In Sanskrit, a mental or physical act is called Karma. Karma is also the word used to describe the consequence of this act, and hence to describe what we call "fate" - since our fate is nothing but the sum of the consequences of our past actions in this and previous lives. After a man has achieved liberation in yoga, his acts will cease to produce karmas. The remainder of his earthy life will be governed only by the karmas which were already in existence before his liberation. He is like an actor on the last night of a play. He knows that the play will never be performed again, no matter how well he does his part, no matter whether the audience boos or applauds. He has nothing to gain or lose by his performance. Nevertheless, he must play it through to the end until the final curtain falls and he can go home.

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Courtesy: PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS, THIRD EDITION, III, 5m3c. 4-86. SRI RAMAKRISHNA MATH, MADRAS, PAGE 22.