Book Title: Aspirants Guide
Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Sadhna Kendra Koba

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Page 21
________________ ASPIRANT'S GUIDE super-intellect and great scriptural knowledge. In this type of charity, the donors donate knowledge of truth and all rounded philosophy which helps the noble one in their ultimate well-being. This kind of charity is dispensed through the media of lectures and preaching religious discourses. in this, both the donor and beneficiary thereof, reap the highest gain for their spiritual progress. Finally, it leads both to the highest benefit and the supreme state of liberation. GLORY OF CHARITY a. Persons of three categories stand highest in Indian society. They are the devotee, the donor and the hero. In Gujarati there is a very famous stanza that pays tribute to the mothers of these three types of human beings: "O Mother, if at all you give birth to a child, let it be a devotee, a donor or a hero. Otherwise, may you prefer to remain barren. Do not lose your vitality in giving birth to others." in india Emperors like Shreyansa and Karna; Kings like Shibi. Harshavardhana and Bhoja; and also great men like Bhamasha, Jagdusha have resorted to various activities of righteous charity and inspired us also to follow their footsteps for the good of our Souls. b. Wealth has three destinations : (i) utilizing for just causes; (ii) utilizing for liberal donations; and (iii) loss due to exhaustion of good deeds (punya). Discriminating persons know this quite well and resort to charity. C. Charity is the very basis of the duties of householders. A householder's life bereit of charity is not the right type of life. d. Righteous charity enhances peace and contentment in life. It conduces to the spread of fame in the world. It yields happiness and ease to other living beings, and leads one to the highest state in the life hereafter. Charity finally yields the eternal state of liberation. Discriminating persons, therefore, accept it as a normal course in all sincerity. e. This is how the householders are expected to use their wealth in charity - the noblest ones 25 percent, the middle ones 10 percent, and the average ones 6 percent of their income. Ancient Acharyas have accepted such high standards of charity. 12 SADHAK-SATHI Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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