Basic Principles Of Jainism

Author(s): Narayan Lal Kachhara
Publisher: Narayan Lal Kachhara

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of the worldly possessions like wealth, power and health are the fruits of Punya. It is Punya that trains the mind to conform to religion.
The observance of the five vows, austerities and other religious practices (see chapter 13) leads to auspicious thoughts (bhava punya) and auspicious deeds (dravya punya). Various kinds of charities are recognized as being conducive to merit. Performance of charity is an item of daily duties enjoined on a house-holder. Dana, gift or charity of food, medicine, accessories (upakarana) and shelter is enjoyed by the sacred books. While giving charity, the donor must have a pure mind, a pure body and pure speech. He must take into account the fitness of the person for receiving the charity. His attitude must be free from ill-will, dejection and condescension. His mind should be joyful and free from desire for worldly rewards. Accessories refer to articles like clothes, bowls to mendicants and items of use to ascetics. Apart from the four kinds of charity, there are other charities like imparting learning, giving protection to the helpless etc. Special significance is attached to expenditure of one's wealth for distribution of sacred books to the deserving, alms to the members of religious orders and to the laity.
Nine kinds of Punya are mentioned by Muni Sushil Kumar viz. food (giving of food), drink (giving of water to the thirsty), shelter, bedding, clothes, entertaining good thoughts, sweet speech, physical service to others and salutation. Special preference in giving charity and rendering services is to be given to the ascetics and to the followers of the right faith.
Fruits of Punya are of various kinds: birth in higher states of existence, birth in a respectable family, freedom from want, possession of all kinds of wealth, sound body with beauty and impressive personality, freedom from diseases of any kind and birth that ensures spiritual progress.
Papa or demerit is that which brings misery or unhappiness to oneself as a result of one's thought, speech or action. All sentient beings feel the pain of their sins. There are thirteen kinds of sinning activity (1) for one's interest, 2) without personal interest, 3) by slaying, 4) through accident, 5) by an error of sight 6) by lying 7) by taking what is not freely given, 8) by mere conceit. 9) through pride, 10) through bad treatment of one's friends, 11) through deceit, 12) through greed, and 13) actions referring to religious life. In addition to these activities, thirst for hoarding and accumulating property, engaged in protecting what is acquired by greed, enmity and hatred towards others, sensuality and sexual craze, engaging in conflicts, quarrels and wars etc., blaming and scandalizing others, irritability and wrong belief etc., also attract inauspicious Kamra. Committing breach of any of the five vows (see chapter 13), and acting under any of the passions result in sinful consequences. It is the sins that obscure the qualities of the soul and produce deformity of mind and body in the next life even.
The first twelve kinds of activities are self-explanatory. The thirteenth kind of activity has reference to religious life. A monk who controls himself for the benefit of his soul, walks carefully to avoid harm to creatures, is gentle in his speech, careful in religious exercises, leads a
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