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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
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out the business. Moreover, we have to bear in mind the present circumstances in particular. The help which you render should not be the root of sinful activity. (You cannot help a woman to carry on prostitution) or the violent activity (You cannot help a man to run a slaughter house!). Then only such help rendered becomes the cause of religious merit. Further he need worry for the future developments. Today the man is helped for a good cause but in future after earning money if he acts sinfully having contacted evil company, then you are not held responsible as when you rendered help it was intended for a good cause. If you think of future consequences it will be very difficult to help any one for any cause. In that case you cannot save cow from fire as the cow in future would drink unboiled water and green grass inflicting sins on our head. In that case we cannot show mercy at any time.
By destroying the right path, the karmas obstructing intuition are contracted. Destruction of right path comprises in preaching the destruction of right knowledge, right intuition and right faith. Thus one should not participate in the activity detrimental to religious spirit.
One who steals or carries away religious property, contracts Karmas obscuring intuition. God means Arithanta-The destroyer of passions—the god without any attachment. Whatever wealth is dedicated to this god is called 'religious property'. One cannot pocket it as it amounts to theft causing degradation in this life and in the life hereafter.
THE TALE OF SAGARSHETH
In a city named Saketpura there lived a Jain householder named Sagar deeply devoted to Lord Arihanta. Realizing him as a gentleman some of the Jain householders entrusted to him religious property with instruction to spend after labourers, and carpenters erecting the temple. Sagar grew greedy when money was on hand. He purchased many commodities like oil, butter, clothes, foodgrains etc. out of this religious property. He sold these commodities at a higher price to the workers instead of paying them in cash. Thus he swallowed the profit amounting to 1,000 Kankanis, (1/80th part of a rupee equals one kankani) to contract dreadful Karmic bondage. Without repenting for his acts he died to be re-born as a
