Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/199

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THE DOCTRINE OF METEMPSYCHOSIS
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of existence; and as their number is, though not unlimited, still an enormous one, the soul requires an enormous space of time in order to finish the contemplation of such a multiplicity of objects. The soul acquires knowledge only by the contemplation of the individuals and the species, and of their peculiar actions and conditions. It gains experience from each object, and thereby gathers new knowledge.

A HINDU CAVE TEMPLE AT ELLORA.

However, these actions differ in the same measure as the three primary forces differ. Besides, the world is not left without some direction, being led, as it were, by a bridle and directed toward a definite scope. Therefore the imperishable souls wander about in perishable bodies conformably to the difference of their actions,

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