Guidelines to Mahavir Darshan

SR No.: 006758
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Satshrutseva Sadhna Kendra
Publisher: Satshrut Seva Sadhna Kendra
Publication Year: 1970
Total Pages: 70
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 4 MB

Page 44

CHARITY
PART IV : 35
medicines, scriptures or place to stay-it should always be systematic, and associated with due respect. This type of donation is predominant in the life of a discriminative Sadhaka, because on such occasions, he is lucky to come in contact with several virtuous ascetic, learned and saintly personalities. Under such eventualities, if the Sadhaka is alert and awake, he will commence to follow the discriminating and scientific process of delighting in the virtuous and the resultant process of virtue imbibation. This de ight in virtues will inspire him to serve the saints in so many different ways. These include-standing upright on seeing them, salutation to them with folded hands, proceeding to receive them, following them in all humility during walking, offering higher seats to them, behaving in a manner befitting their temperament, going up to the door or the outskirts of the village to bid good-bye to them, and to obey their directives and so on. Thus there will be various types of his devotion towards the saints.
When this is followed honestly and sincerely, the Sadhaka will himself attain sainthood.
This is because
“ There is a lot of difference between a Parasa gem (Philosopher's stone ) and a Saint. The former converts iron to gold, while the saint makes a Saint out of man."
Surely we all approve of making a saint out of man. Without approval and conviction of this, our spiritual aspiration is not fully justified. Let us ponder over this with proper discrimination. (ii) Compassionate Charity :
In this type of charity, the main purpose is to remove the sufferings of the tormented. In the present case, the person benefitting from charity is not more virtuous than the liberal donor. The feeling of compassion in the heart of the donor is therefore dominant in the present case; the donor being inspired by this feeling, helps the afflicted with sympathy and serves them by body, mind or wealth.
Compassionate charity consists of liberal donation by one who is moved by the pangs of the tormented. He tries all his best to remove their sufferings in a variety of ways. It may consist of help and
nation to the poor and beggars: those who have suffered by famine or heavy rains or the hungry and the orphans. Similar are liberal