Jaina Path of Ahimsa

Author(s): Vilas Sangve
Publisher: Bhagwan Mahavir Research Centre

Page 73

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The Jaina Path Of Ahirsā
(1) Encouragement to Grant of Charities :
As a fundamental part of the observance of the vow of Ahimsā, it has been specifically laid down that the householders should make it a point to give regularly from their income Dāna, i.e., charities. Obviously the principle of Dāna has been given great importance in Jaina religion.
In connection with the meaning of the term Dāna, it has been stated in the authoritative Jaina work "Tattvārtha Sūtra” as follows:
3tquer repetira-Pit CTH || VII 38
that is, “Charity is the giving of one's belongings for the good (of one's self and of others)”. Such a charity or gift is always recommended because in giving one's belongings to others one exercises control over his greed which is nothing but a form of Hiṁsā. That is why in the interest of the cultivation of Ahimsā, the practice of giving Dāna is recommended in the celebrated standard sacred Jaina text of “Purushärthasiddhi-upāya” as follows :
हिंसाया: पर्यायो लोभोऽत्र निरस्यते यतो दाने। ARHITGAARUI FECIT CHUHACH || 172
that is, “In making a gift one gets over greed, which is a form of Himsā, and hence gifts made to worthy recipients amount to a renunciation of Himsā (i.e., amount to observance of Ahirisā”.) In the same text in continuation it has been stated that a person automatically becomesgreedy if he does not give charity to worthy guests in following terms:
गृहमागताय गुणिने मधुकरवृत्त्या परान्न पीडयते। Parria et area of a Re HEFT 49fa || 173
that is, "why should a person be not called greedy if he does not give gift to a guest who visits his home, who is well-qualified and who, acting like a honey-bee, accepts gifts without causing any injury to others”. It means that the practice of giving gifts tantamounts to the practice of Ahiṁsā.
Further, with a view to raising the purity involved in giving gifts and in the practice of Ahimsā, it is laid down that the donor, i.e, who gives gifts, must have following seven qualities :