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2
Summary of Significant Concepts A N Upadhye
[Note: The figures in brackets indicate Verse no.]
1. The Doctrine of Three Upayogas
The soul is constituted of the manifestation of consciousness [upayoga] which is in the form of knowledge or cognition and which flows in one of the three channels: inauspicious, auspicious or pure (9, 155).
A being of inauspicious manifestation of consciousness (ashubha upayoga) is steeped in sensual pleasures and passions, is given to false scriptures, evil intentions and wicked works, is cruel, and goes astray (158). The inauspicious one is a cause of sinful karmic influx (156, 245). Under the influence of this upayoga the soul wanders for long as a low graded human being, a sub-human being and a hellish one subjected to thousands of miseries (12).
The auspicious manifestation of consciousness (shubha upayoga) is characterised by devotion of God, ascetic or preceptor and by the practice of philanthropy, virtues, fasts, etc. (69) and by compassion towards all the living beings (157). It incurs only the meritorious influx of karmas for the soul (157, 245). It leads the soul to heavenly pleasure; and even if one is born as a sub-human, human or divine being there are plenty of pleasures of senses (11, 70). A monk with Shubhopayoga shows a respectful behaviour towards elderly monks, offers instructions on faith and knowledge, maintains students, and helps co-monks without causing harm to any living beings (247-248).
