Essence of Jainism Part 01

SR No.: 006768
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kushalchandravijay
Publisher: 108 jain Tirth Darshan Trust
Publication Year: 1992
Total Pages: 176
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 7 MB

Page 130

(19) Serving Sadhus (Monks), Guests, the poor and the Suffering:
We should serve and honour sadhus and noble persons who possess mercy, truthfulness, contentment, endurance, politeness, humility, simplicity, generosity, philanthropy and equanimity of mind. We should provide sadhus with food, clothes, medicines and wooden utensiles. If we serve them with devotion, their virtues will be imbibed by us. Humanity also demands that we should help the poor, the blind, and the handicaps. The birds and the beasts should be looked after out of compassion from them. A house-holder should not eat till he has given alms to a sadhu. At lunch time one should cast a glance outside the door and serve the food to the needy who happens to be there and eat himself afterwards.
(20) Avoidance of Obstincy :
When a person clings to any opinion refusing to see the reason, it amounts to obstincy which leads to stubborness. Finally, if results into wrong belief that "mine alone is truth". When sincre and objective well-wishers point out the contradiction in ones views but one still holds on to his opinion, it would mean obstinacy. If one acts on what the wise speak, one's reputation increases, one becomes trustworthy and respectable. To err is human and one who owns up one's error instead of being obstinate, will be enlightened man. Revered shri Haribhadra Suriji Maharaj has shown three path of practising religion: (1) Service to sadhus (2) Friendliness towards all (3) Self restrain 34 Restraining oneself as a way of life besides not becoming opinionionated.
(21) To favour the meritorious ones :
A meritorious person possesses the merits of humility, simplicity, contentment, righteousness, generosity, politeness, steadiness, purity, piety, gratitude, unselfishness and introvertedness. Hence, we must favour these good qualities. Love of virtue is like a lamp. We can light many lamps from the flame of a single lamp and yet the light of the original lamp does not decrease. Similarly, one becomes virtuous by loving virtuous people. Love of virtues fosters the necessary qualities by becoming religious minded. We must love virtues.
(22) Avoid bad place and improper times :
We are prohibited from visiting brothels, dens of gambling and drinking (wine-bars), places of chandals (Slaughterers), fishermen
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