Jain Spirit 2004 10 No 20

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 45

Exchange Board of India? Mr. D. R. Mehta is a lifelong civil servant, who committed himself to help those people who were defenceless or powerless. In his early days, he was a commissioner in various districts of Rajasthan where he presided over famines and varying economic crises. He never lost his love of public service, and rose to some of the highest offices, through sheer dedication and ethical endeavour. Uniquely, he never lost his humility.
The Tattvartha Sutra clarifies by saying that, "The giver's motives and enthusiasm and the quality of the alms offered determine the worth of the act of charity."
If you are next approached by someone who is seeking charity, my advice is not to be impatient but try to help in some way. It is trendy to give to charities who have no administration cost, but this may not always be the most effective way to ensure that funds fulfil the needs of the society. Often, expertise is needed and can potentially help ensure that your money actually reaches the qualified recipients. The best thing of course is to get involved yourself, in which case you can get the
whole picture, and you are directly able to influence changes where you feel things are not going right. If for any reason you are not able to do that, then do give your trust and faith and try to encourage them if appropriate. Remember that the goals of charity are different from those of business - they are about social and spiritual upliftment, which is a return that is not measurable. Profit has its limitations as a measure of success. I often find that businessmen have difficulty understanding this. However, also be wary of avoiding charity. I have found that there are some who give and many who do not, and those who avoid it always have something or someone to blame, or are just plain selfish. In such circumstances, you would be missing out from one of life's rare opportunities, and will not be able to enrich the quality of your life experience. Mr. D. R. Mehta is certainly a true professional who uses his skills to elevate the quality of his life. He is the true beneficiary. And so is society.
LIFESTYLE 43
Dr Atul K. Shah is Executive Editor of Jain Spirit.
For more details with regard to the Jaipur Foot Clinic visit www.jaipurfoot.org
Ram Chandra, inventor of the Jaipur Foot