________________
The feelings of kindness, compassion, affection, friendship, etc are indicative of sensitivity. Charity, benevolence and service are its practical forms. The feeling of affection (vātsalya) is a part of right vision, which is dharma. Therefore kindness and compassion are also dharma. Feelings of mercy, kindness, compassion, friendship, affection, etc. are not due to fruition of any earlier bonded karma but they arise in a person naturally and are, therefore, his basic nature. Whatever is natural is dharma and dharma can never be a cause of karmic bondage. On the other hand it is a cause of karmic destruction and separation. Therefore, not to accept the feelings of kindness etc., as causes of karmic destruction and separation is an error; as has been said by Ācārya Siddhasena Divākara -
Kiñca dānena bhogāptistato bhavaparamparā | Dharmādharmakṣayāt muktirmumukșirneștamintyadaḥ || Naiva yatpunyabandho'pi dharmahetuḥ śubhodayah | Vahnerdāhyam vināšyeva naśvaratvāt svato mataḥ ||
- Prathama Dvātrimśikā, 7. Query - Charity results in the gain of worldly pleasures, which results in increase in worldly transmigration while liberation is gained through practicing dharma and decrease of adharma. Therefore charity should not be desirable for those desirous of liberation.
Reply - It is not so, because bonding of merit or punya is also a cause of dharma and is due to the rise of auspiciousness. As the fire perishes itself after burning the fuel, so does the merit after destroying the sins. That is, due to piety of charity the worldly transmigration reduces and does not increase.
The reality is that as the spiritual aspirant advances in his spiritual practice his attachment for material things reduces and whereby he is able to use those very things for the benefit of others and his feeling of generosity keeps increasing. This feeling of generosity itself is indicative of his charity. Therefore, as the spiritual aspirant advances in his spiritual practice his qualities of generosity and charity also develop. This
64
Positive Non-Violence
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org