As a last remembrance of past trials he sees a strange upright rock, in the shape of an axe, on his way down to the valley. It is the emblem of the King of Death, and it is called the axe of Karma. To the pious pilgrim it has lost its power through the mercy of Tara, the Saviouress, because mercy is stronger than Karma; it washes away our past deeds in the tears of compassion for all suffering beings. Sharing the suffering of all leaves no place for one's own suffering, and finally results in one's growing beyond one's own little ego. - The Way of the White Clouds by Lama Anagarika Govinda.