Essence of Jainism Part 01

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

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As the bond of attachment towards wealth is loosened by the habit of doing charity, we shall become right in conduct which will in turn make it easy for us for doing penance for purification of mind. This is the reason for according first place to charity in the duties of house-holder. We should therefore learn to give first and expect not to receive. We had acquired a great deal of wealth in our past births and left it behind. We shall leave all our possessions behind in this birth also when we die. We would no doubt acquire great merit punya if wealth is used for religious and charitable purposes.
Wealth is gained as a result of good merits earned in past. If we spend it again the same way as done before, we gain merits again for it is to the meritorious person that wealth returns.
There are five kinds of Charity :
1. Abhayadan (Saving the life of a creature).
2. Supatradan (Alms to the worthy).
3. Anukampadan (Charity out of compassion).
4. Uchitdan (Charity to deserving).
5. Kirtidan (Charity for earning fame).
Charity is the first step to lead the life of Renunciation. Should we practise the six easential duties in our life properly the gains will be uncomparabel to what we otherwise acquire.
What are the Vows for ?
Some people argue that it is better not to take vows, lest, we may forget their observation and thus commit a sin, we must remember that it is human to forget. As a child, we learn our Alphabet only after making many unsucessful attempts.
Please remember that it is not enough not to eat forbidden or non-eatable things like Beet-roots, potatoes, onions, garlic, meat and alchohol, but we should take a pledge not to eat them. If we have not taken the pledge and even when we do not eat them, we still accumulate sins as we have not given up the desire for them. There are indefinite number of vegatables in the world. Some of them are never eaten by us; but inner desire for them exists and that causes the sin of aviratilack of abstaining.
Illustration of Avirati-Lack of abstaining:
Vows taken are like registration deeds. When we buy real property like a flat or a building, we enter into an agreement (Banakhat) but
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