________________
Avoidance of Intoxicants and Non-Possession
237
things were completely changed, and these small houses meant for the monks were converted into big monasteries and the ownership of these monasteries too changed from the laity to the monks. And the monks started living permanently in these monasteries. In this sense it can also be said that the Buddhist Samgha changed into parigrahi (or possessive) Samgha. Dana
Dāna is considered an important moral principle in Buddhist ethics also, more specially in the Mahāyāna sect, where it is regarded as the first stepping-stone to bodhi.1 For the Mahāyāni aspirant to bodhi, observance of pāramitās is fundamentally necessary. Jātaka stories relate some of the previous births of Buddha; during these births the Bodhisattva was preparing himself to achieve the supreme enlightenment, and was gradually bringing himself to the attainment of certain perfections. It is these perfections which are called the pāramitās or 'Pārami' in Pāli and are supposed to be six. in number. Among these six pāramitās, dāna-pāramitā occupies the first place. It means perfection of generosity for all living beings. One is said to be established in this perfection when he is prepared to give away whatever he has.. He does not wish to know about the person whom he is giving, nor does he think of getting its reward, but he only thinks of his well-being. After achieving this perfection other perfections are achieved, such as those of sila and prajãā etc. This only shows that perfection of dāna is the first stepping-stone to enlightenment. One Jätaka story tells of one of the previous lives of the Bodhisattva who born as a wise hare, He tells his friends, “Gifts should be given, moral conduct guarded and the formal acts of observance carried out."He
1. ari fe affahari atfafafai -Śikṣāsammuccaya, p. 34. 2. Some texts speak of ten pāramitās. 3. Jataka Stories, vol. III, Jataka No. 316 (Birth story of
a hare).
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
