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PUNYA (GOOD DEEDS) Chapter 23 - Punya (Good Deeds)
Why are some people in more desirable situations than the others? Why are some rich while others struggle? Why do some suffer more sickness than others? The answer to such a disparity lies in the understanding of the Punya and the Päp. What are the Punya and the Päp? Punya and Päp are the categories of Karma. Punya karma is earned when our activities are good and comforting to others while a Päp karma is earned when our activities are bad and cause suffering to others. When the Punya karmas mature or give result, they bring happiness and comfort, and when the Päp karmas mature or give results, they bring nothing but suffering and miseries.
Now, it is obvious that what we experience is nothing other than the result of our past actions. Knowing this reminds us that our activities should be wholesome if we want happiness and comfort in life, otherwise we should be ready to suffer unhappiness and discomfort. When talking about activities, people mostly think of physical activities, but we should not forget that verbal expressions, and mental thoughts are also considered activities. For this reason, not only our physical activities have to be pious or wholesome, but our speech and thoughts should also be pure. We should remember that we also accumulate Punya and Päp (karmas) by asking someone else to do something good or bad or by encouraging someone else to do good or bad.
Lord Mahävir's message is "Live and let live". Everybody desires to live and enjoy the comforts of life. We should not come in the way of anyone else seeking the same. If we properly understand the implications of this message, it will go a long way in molding our attitude towards other living beings. But, around us we see and hear that many people hunt or fish and they eat meat, chicken, fish, eggs, etc. Some meat-eating people argue that they do not actually kill animals or they say these creatures were created for our food. Therefore, eating meat or other animal foods would not affect them. They do not realize that by eating meat or other animal foods they are directly or indirectly instrumental in killing animals, birds, fish, etc., The more they eat, the more killing there will be. They do not realize that their direct as well as indirect actions bring Päp or Punya. Unfortunately, because most Päps do not show their results immediately, the people do not care about the consequences.
We also hear about riots in, which people plunder, hit, and kill others and set fire to shops, homes, and buildings. By doing so, they put a lot of people through suffering. These people while doing such heinous activities may think that they are getting even; however, they fail to realize that by causing suffering to others they themselves will have to suffer the consequences of their evil acts at some point, in this life, or future lives.
Consequently, our actions should not disturb the comforts of other living beings, hurt or kill them in any way, directly or indirectly. By providing comfort and security to others, we gain Punya. Punya brings happiness during this life or following lives. On the other hand, if we cause suffering or unhappiness to others, we acquire Päp. Päp brings unhappiness in this or future lives. Let us understand from the following story how we accumulate the Punya and the Päp.
JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE I
105
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