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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
177
It is a great virtue to help others and a vice to seek help from others. Like rivers, clouds, the sun, the moon and the earth, great men do not expect any return or reward for their deeds of benevolence.
It is said in Sthānanga Sūtra that it is impossible to repay the help given to us by three types of persons. It is said, "Oh! noble Shramaņa! It is impossible to repay the help given to us by these three kinds of persons. (1) Parents, (2) the master, (3) the preceptor." This is so because whatever we may do to repay the help given by them to us we cannot repay it fully. Whatever noble people possess is meant to be given away in charity. "Rivers do not drink their water, trees do not eat their fruits, clouds do not eat the crops. So also the wealth of noble men is not used by them. It is meant for helping others".
It is said in the Neeti Pradeepa, What does the sea do with its gems? What do the Vindhya mountains do with their elephants? What does the Malaya mountain do with the sandal wood?" (The implication is that they do not use them for their own benefit). Similarly the wealth of noble people is meant for the benefit of others.
Nagashri gave a preparation made out of bitter greens to Dharmaruchi Anagar, when he came for Gochari (food). The preceptor found out that it was not fit to be eaten. So, he ordered Dharmaruchi to take it out of the town and to throw it away in a place where no one might eat it. Carrying it he went out of the town. When he threw a part of it on the ground, some ants which ate it died immediately. Dharmaruchi thought that if he threw the stuff there thousands of ants might eat it attracted by the smell of ghee and die. He decided that instead of causing the death of so many ants, he had better eat it and die and he did so. To help other jivas, Dharmaruchi sacrificed his life thus.
Once, Sir Philip Sidney a great poet and soldier lay mortally wounded in a battle field. He was feeling extremely thirsty. Another soldier with great difficulty secured a cup of water and gave it to him. When he was about to
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