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compassioned but compassionate for the others. This second alternative decidedly applies to the Tīrthankaras as well as to the likes of Metārya muni and Dharmaruci Aņagāra, etc., who did not care for themselves but cared for the others. 3. Those who are self-compassioned as well as compassionate for the others. This third alternative applies to the Sthavirakalpi monks who care for both. 4. Those who are neither selfcompassioned nor compassionate for the others. This fourth alternative applies to great sinners like the butcher Kālaśaurika, etc., who cared for none.
In this example with four alternatives it has been mentioned that it is the Sthavirakalpī monks that care for both - for themselves as well as for the others. That is they ought to be compassionate towards themselves as well as the others. Thus, to save a dying creature is the religious duty of a Sthavirakalpī monk. Therefore those monks who say that we do not save others but avoid sinning ourselves must be included in the third type of persons - the cruel ones – in the first alternative.
Thus, to be compassionate towards the self as well as the others is the religious duty of the Sthavirakalpī monk. If he avoids this duty he shirks the performance of his duty and can only be categorised as cruel. This is the implication of this example of four alternatives. Meritorious Influx and Karmic Destruction from Compassion -
Puņņassāsavabhūdā aṇukampā suddhao uvajoo ! Vivario pāvassa hu āsavaheum viyāṇāhi ||
- Jayadhavalā, Book 1, p. 52. That is -Compassion and pure volitional consciousness both result in meritorious karmic influx; on the other hand, their opposites - lack of compassion and impure volitional consciousness result in sinful karmic influx. The reasons for karmic influx must be understood in this light.
In the abovementioned verse, Vīrasenācārya has clearly said that compassion and pure consciousness result in meritorious or pious karmic
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Positive Non-Violence
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