Jain Digest 2018 10

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 41

JainDigest when people take advantage of others for being honest person seeking food every day. Once, it so happened and fair. My master (sadguru), Param Pujya Pappaji told that due to low earnings in business, the couple could me, "what is yours that someone will take from you? not afford feeding more than two people every day so The only thing you have is your soul and it is good if they decided to eat on alternate days taking turns and people take advantage and take away the unwanted continued to feed monk. Lord Indra praised him for his things." This really opened my eyes and clarified my devotion. It is really inspiring to see his steadfastness in doubts that were bothering me. Pujyashri's compassion following neeti and maintaining equanimity even during and karuna bhaav towards me helped me understand the tough times. importance of neeti. Typically we all try to follow some of the rules of ethical code and feel satisfied with so Punia shravak also did samayik every day. One day little. For instance: when we pay tax, we evaluate various while doing samayik he experienced restlessness and tax options to determine how to conduct business and wondered why this was happening to him. Each day he personal transactions in order to reduce or eliminate tax would stay in equanimity and be focused on his soul, liability with the intent of saving money. We also tend to but it was a different that day. He shared his mental state favor our family or community member to help them out with his wife and wondered if they had broken the code by breaking or bending rules at workplace. Once we do of conduct in any way. Suddenly the wife remembered that, we are guilty of breaking the moral code of conduct that she had borrowed cowdung to light up her stove. However, she forgot to return it back to the neighbor. Only a person walking on this path of neeti is moksha She then returned the cowdung to the neighbor worthy. For instance, in any sport or board games, rules immediately. Thereafter Punia Shravak could once again provide an agreement of understanding to competition. focus on his soul during samayik. Even Lord Mahavir Players are expected to follow rules governed by their praised his samayik ritual in his sermons. team such as behavior, attending practices, camps and drills and wearing the correct uniform. However, if these Once King Shrenik asked Lord Mahavir how he could rules are broken or compromised upon, players could destroy his bad karmas to avoid being born in hell in his suffer mild to severe consequences. They could even be next life. He was ready to give up his entire kingdom for asked to step out of a game for the season depending that. Lord Mahavir knew that it is not possible to change on the severity of offence. In similar fashion, if one such karma once acquired by a person. However, to breaks the code of conduct, one removes oneself from convey this message properly to the King, he said, "If mokshamarg as one also breaks sadguru aagna. you can buy the punya karma of one samayik from Punia Shravak then it may be possible to change the birth karma Hence one should remain truthful, humble, practice non- of your next life." As the picture shows, Punia Shravak's violence, and follow sadguru's teachings. Once a person samayik was much more valuable than the king's wealth. understands this and makes sadguru bhakti his sole purpose in life, then, sadguru's unprecedented (apurv) One cannot help admiring the integrity with which neeti words (vaani), and guidance, will lead to unprecedented was followed. This is an excellent example of following changes in thoughts (bhaav) and result in advancement ethical code reminding us to not ignore or forget to on the spiritual path. return things of little financial value also. Though the Patrank 496 is written to Dharsibhai, it sets the tone There is a story in Jin and path for all mumukshus on this path aagam that describes emphasizing the importance of following the importance of the moral code of conduct prescribed by sadguru's aagna and a sadguru. Ethics provides us with a moral neeti. During the time of map, a framework that we can use to find king Shrenik, there was our way through difficult issues such as the a householder (shravak) ones listed below: named Punia who lived with his wife in that * How to live a good life kingdom. He earned * Our rights and responsibilities his livelihood from * The language of right and wrong (truthfulness) the business of cotton * Moral decisions - what is good and bad? trading that he ran with * When to stop earning or accumulating? moral code of ethics. (aparigrah) Both husband and wife * Intent to earn lead a life of neeti. Punia would not eat his food * Managing Relationships (abrahmcharya) until he fed a monk or a * Ahimsa through mind, body, speech 30000000000 00000000000 GO000000 0000-0-3