Aparigraha the Humane Solution

Author(s): Kamla Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 94

APARIGRAHA - THE HUMANE SOLUTION
In Nidänakatha, which is an introduction to Jātaka Katha, the stories of Buddha's past lives are related, from his life as Sumedha up to his life in the monastery of Jetavana. Buddha is said to have searched the entire cosmic order to discover the conditions helpful for enlightenment.' While meditating on them Buddha realised that dāna-pāramitā (perfection of generosity) is the first and foremost condition to enlightenment, a condition that was preached and practised by former Bodhisattvas. And he admonished himself thus: 'O wise Sumedha, from now onwards you fulfill the first perfection of dāna, just as an overturned water pot discharges whole of water and holds back nothing, without regard to wealth, wife, fame, child or one limb or the other of the body, you will become a Buddha seated at the foot of bodhi tree."2 Thus Buddha laid emphasis on the perfection of dāna, as the great highway followed by mighty sages of the past. Dana, thus, hints at non-attachment of possessions that one has, but its importance is pronounced more for the laity than for the monks, who, as it is, have limited possessions, and therefore have little to offer as dana. Thus, though analytically aparigraha and dana are different in their meanings, both imply the limitation of desires, at the personal level, and the spirit of generosity at the social level. It follows therefore, that without control of desires as our foundation of social well-being we may be heading towards a form of collective insanity. Aparigraha along with ahimsa is the solution to check this and to move towards collective social life.
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Aparigraha in different faiths
Christian view
In Christianity the principle of non-possession is evident in the Ten Commandments as the injunctions against covetuousness along with others. "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house', and "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid servant, nor his ox nor his ass nor anything that is thy neighbour's'.3
1. Jātaka Nidānakathā - Jayawickrama - Introduction p. 31.
2.
Ibid
3.
Exdus - 20.