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RITUALS
DO5 - Six Ävashyakas (Six Essentials and Daily Observances)
Attaining Spiritual Peace Reflecting On Good Thoughts
Acquiring and Imparting Knowledge and Learning 5. Tapa - Austerity
The importance of the external austerities like fasting (Upavas) etc. depends on the noble purpose behind their observance as also on the purity of mental state. If a man gives up all the botheration of food with the purpose of practicing yoga or meditation, controlling sense-organs, purifying mind, turning inward, attaining spiritual peace, reflecting on good thoughts, studying soul-ennobling works of performing any other good activity, then fasting is a spiritually beneficial austerity. Remaining constantly engaged in acquiring and imparting knowledge and learning, the saintly persons have composed spiritually elevating works; their devoted efforts to acquire knowledge, constant study of the praiseworthy philosophical and religious works, and the painstaking task of writing virtuous works, all this is one of the highest forms of austerity. To undertake a great good work, to execute it, and while doing all these, to forget hunger, thirst, bodily pains, and to get completely engrossed in the task is also a form of austerity. Thus, all attempts to purify soul and pure zeal for rendering service to others come under the category of austerity. Not only that, but to do the allotted work honestly is also a case of austerity. Devotion to one's duty is also a form of austerity. Fast of a right measure observed properly is beneficial to bodily health. It cultivates endurance. The word 'Upaväs' is derived from the verbal root 'Vas' meaning to be' or 'to exist' with the prefix 'Upa' meaning 'near'. Thus, it means an act of being near one's own soul, that is, an act of being in the pure state of one's soul. In short, the external austerities are to be practiced for achieving the following auspicious purposes - for preventing diseases, for cultivating power of endurance so that in future one can face hardships with equanimity, for serving others, for getting time for learning, study, teaching, reading, writing, thinking for purifying mind, so on and so forth. Tapa means:
To Get Completely Engrossed In A Noble Task Is Austerity. Rendering Service to Others Is Austerity.
To Do The Allotted Work Honestly Is Austerity 6. Däna - Donation
Donation means offering one's possession acquired through legitimate means. Greed is overcome by donation. There is no place for pride in donation. Donation should be offered to the deserving and worthy persons at the proper place and time. Having renounced all possessions, to devote oneself completely to the service of other is the acme of donation. A man who has renounced all his possessions remains engrossed in the works beneficent to both himself and others, is satisfied with the bare necessities of life, entertains no desire to accumulate anything, and employs all his energies in achieving the noble, takes the least from the society and offers the most to it. When he continuously offers the benefits of his spiritual experiences to the masses out of pure affection, then his donation of services is highly superior to the donation of uncountable wealth by the richest of the rich. Mahävir and other saints who renounced all their possessions are such donors as are greatly superior to those rich men of the world who offered their uncountable wealth in donation. Just as offering money to the deserving is donation, so also showing the good and righteous path to someone through one's speech, giving virtuous advice to others, doing good to others through one's speech are also forms of donation. Thus, we can perform the duty of donation in various ways. Donation of that thing which is needed most at a particular time is great at that time.
Compendium of Jainism - 2015
Page 237 of 398
