Jain Journal 2002 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 19

184
JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXXVI, No. 4 April, 2002
who does service when in need.13 A monk adept in service is called prajna-sramana, because he is endowed with humility, renunciation and sell-control, and is the protector of the whole Sangha.14 However, while doing service a monk must be careful not to injure creaturers or do anything which may tarnish his vow of ahimsä.
There is not much difference between the concepts of service in the Svetāmbara and the Digambara sects of Jainism except that in the Svetämbara sect the householders are not allowed to render personal service to monks; only monks do vaiyavrittya tapas. Of course, acts like protecting monks against thieves and wild animals and taking them across a river etc., can be done only by householders. In the Digambara sect, the lay devotees are allowed to serve the monks personally and such a service is considered highly meritorious. Apart from this, the lay Jain's service takes the form of observing the basic ethical tenets, fulfilment his duties, and performing acts of charity.
Contemporary Service Programmes
A number of attenupts have been made in recent times to meet the demands of society without compromising with the basic Jain principles, especially ahimsā. Jain ācāryas and thinkers have realized that today there is a greater need for ahimsā than ever before. A large number of Jain charitable trusts and institutions have come up in India and are carrying on philanthropic activities. The Terāpanthi Jain Sangha under the leadership of Acharya Tulsi is by far the most progressive and is a source of inspiration to a large number of Terapanthi institutions in India. The Jain Swetambar Terapanthi Mahasabha publishes a periodical and Jain scriptural literature and runs educational institutions. Another institution at Ranavasa in Rajasthan runs a residential college open to students of all sects. Adarsha Sahitya Sangha has published more than 150 books during the last 44 years. The Terapanthi Youth Wing has 150 branches all over India through which the youth are trained to live a life of morality and nonviolence. The Youth Wing has as its motto 'cooperation, service and self-culture (Sanghatan, Sevā, Samskāra) and organizes youth camps, competitions and conferences, blood donation camps, eyeoperation camps, camps for treatment of asthma and epilepsy, and conducts relief during natural calamities. Its other activities include distribution of fruits and clothing to orphans and patients, and books
13. Ibid. 14. Phulchand Jain. Mulachara ka Samikshatmaka Adhyayan (Hindi)
(Varanasi : Parsvanatha Vidyasrama Sodha Samsthana, 1988), 193.