The Religions of India c19.35

c19.35

The general result of this teaching may be formulated thus, that most people are foolishly optimistic and that the great awakening is to become a pessimist. One must believe not only that pain is inseparable from existence, but that the pleasures of life are only a part of its pain. When one has got so far along the path of knowledge he traverses the next stage and gets rid of desire, which is the root of life, — this is a Vedic utterance, — till by casting off desire, ignorance, doubt, and heresy, as add some of the texts,² one has removed far away all unkindness and vexation of soul, feeling good-will to all.