Essence of Jainism Part 01

Author(s): Kushalchandravijay
Publisher: 108 jain Tirth Darshan Trust

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5. Penance (Tapa) :
Eating is not the nature of the soul. We require food because we have got a body to support we have to commit many a sin to satisfy this sinful stomach. In order to get to the state on 'anahari' (non eating), we should observe small penances like Navakarshi, Porsi, Ekaasana, Ayambli and a complete fast gradually forming a habit of it. By penance few new karmas are accumulated and the old karmas are destroyed.
The Trithankars, Gandhaaras and great saints begin practice of penance soon after the renunciation of the world and acceptance of the monkhood. In this way, they exert themselves itmost to eradicate the bonds of karma. Religion preaches freindship for all living creatures which presupposes life of non-violence, self-control and penance.
We boil or steam the clothes to remove the dirt and scratch wall to remove old paint before new paint can be applied to it. Similarly, we should practise penance in order to get rid of karmas. But if a fast or Ayambil or any other penance is observed without taking vows, it is useless. Penance proves effective in a cleaning action only, when it is accompanied by a vow.
6. Charity :
The Lord has preached four-fold religion for a house holder : (1) Charity-Dan (2) Good Character-Shil (3) Penance-Tapa and (4) A pure mental activity - Bhava.
Why Charity is placed first?
The Soul (Jiva) while wandering in the world since infinite time, whether in the birth of a God, a man or a small creature like an ant or a lower animal, has formed a deeply rooted grasping nature, a habit of greed. The more a man gets, the greater becomes his greed, which drives him to acts of sin. In order to remove that, which causes greed, we are enjoined upon to practise alms-giving as an anti-dote. That is why to give charity is considered the first duty of a house-holder.
Charity should not be done with a desire to get more and still more riches in return, as it will defeat the purpose; though as a matter of fact we gain more in return as we give away a part of what little we may have. However, we should give away something everyday only to cultivate a sense of detachment towards possession.
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