Bliss

Author(s): Amarmuni
Publisher: Sanmati Gyan Pith Agra

Page 72

NON-POSSESSIVENESS AND CHARITY
What we impose upon ourselves beyond our bare necessities adds to the burden of life. Even austerities are burdensome if they are adopted more due to external pressures rather than out of a voluntary and natural inclination to do so.
The principle of non-possessiveness is the life-breath of
Jainism and the core of all religions.
In the journey of our life, we don't travel empty-handed. We travel with possessions - things that we have accumulated for our comfort, for our happiness, sometimes for no reason at all. One important question in our journey through life is - should we travel with maximum weight or with minimum baggage? Which of these is better for us? Will the journey be more joyous with more belongings or will it be easier with less?
Look at this familiar scene. We pack our bags before a journey, taking along whatever we think we need. You think, "If I fall sick on the way, isn't it better to carry medicines?" Not knowing which disease might inflict you, you carry an entire medical kit. Similarly, you carry eatables and utensils far