ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 300

Today there is globalization and the world has become very small. Means of communications have added to easy access to any place. There are unfortunate natural calamities, earth quakes, fire. At such a time all the nations rush for immediate assistance. If the poor nations suffer due to famine and scarcity it is imperative on the part of the rich nations to support the weeping hungry children. There may be rushed food, medicines, clothes and other necessary life equipments.
There must be some provision for charity in your earning may be of any type cash or kind. Jain preceptors have enunciated four kinds of charities which may be delivered to the needy;
1) Ahāradāna (Food) 2) Vidyādāna (Knowledge) 3) Oşadhidāna (Medicine) 4) Abhayadāna (To make one fearless).
One may part any of these four or all the four as the case may be.
Tyāga eko guņa ślāghyah, Kimanyai guna rasibhi, Tyāgajjagati pūjyante, Pasupaśanapāpah (Rayaņasāra), renunciation is supreme in comparison to other virtues. For their deliverance of good things even the animals, stones and trees are worshipped.
Ahāradāna (Food): One may give up food for the poor it means one can go to any charity home, orphanage, old age house and can pay for their food arrangements. There are several charity homes in India, run on social assistance. There are animal bird's hospitals to feed and treat them. I think that Mother Terresa proved herself the goddess on earth in doing charitable work to the destitute of the world. There are several poor nations deserving help from the wealthy nations.
Vidyādāna (Knowledge): If one can not financially support one can teach someone or donate books to the needy students. If one member of a family is given perfect education, when grown up will help others thus a family becomes self supporting. When there was no printing press, one lady in South India wrote herself and donated one thousand scriptures to different temples and scholars. There had been the tradition of learning and writing that is why we have our legacy in manuscripts.
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