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Chapter 18: Conclusion
One, who forsakes the instrumental factors in the name of absolute causation, would stay deluded and cannot attain the liberated state.
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Explanation & Discussion:
This stanza is also very significant as it lays down the theory of causation in the right perspective. Every thing occurs by virtue of several factors, which are termed as causes. All such factors can be classified into two categories of Upädän and Nimitta. Upädän is the absolute cause. It relates to the matter or the substance, which undergoes change and is therefore the cause of its own changing states. For instance, for making an earthen pot, earth is the basic requirement, without which the pot cannot be made. If one tries to make it from sand or water, he cannot do it. This is because earth has the potential to be turned into a pot, while sand or water does not. Earth is therefore termed as the Upädän or absolute cause of the pot. The instrumental cause is termed as Nimitta, which has been explained above.
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The potential of something to turn into some other form or state is called its Upädän. The soul, because of its potential to attain the liberated state, is the Upädän for the state of liberation. Lifeless objects do not have that potential of liberation, and do not therefore become Upädän for that purpose. Thus the potential to do something or to turn into some form is the essential aspect of Upädän. This should be kept in mind, because often there is misunderstanding about this.
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Some people have the tendency to underrate the importance of Nimitta. They contend that Upädän is the only
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