Jaina Path of Ahimsa

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

Page 74

Basic Positivity Of Ahimsā
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1. Aihikaphalānapekshā, i.e., the donor must not expect any gain
or reward in this world in exchange of gifts given by him. 2. Kshānti, i.c, the donor should have forbearance and should
give calmly and without anger (which means the donor should not get excited if an unexpected or untoward thing happens
while he was engaged in the pious act of giving gifts). 3. Muditva, i.e., the donor must possess feelings of happiness
and have joyous appearance at the time of giving gifts. 4. Nishkapatatā, i.e., the donor must act in all sincerity and
should give without deceipt. 5. Anasūyatva, i.e., the donor should have no feelings of jealousy
or envy. 6. Avishāditva, i.e., the donor should not have any feelings of
sorrow or repentance. 7. Nirahankāniva, i.e., the donor should not have any sense of
pride in giving gifts as pride is certainly a bad condition of
mind. Moreover, for the sake of maintaining the sanctity of Dāna it has been enjoined upon the donors to see that the Dāna is always given only to proper persons. The donee, that is, the person to whom Dāna is given, is termed as Pātra and for the purposes of gift the donees are classified into three categories, viz.,
1. Supātras i.e., good donees (those who are having right belief
and engrossed in practising vows), 2. Kupātras, i.e., deficient donees (those who are with proper
external conduct but without real right belief), and 3. Apātras, i.e., unworthy donees (those who are neither having
proper external conduct nor real right belie). Obviously, giving Dāna to the Supātras is highly recommended, to the Kupātras is not encouraged and to the Apātras is definitely forbidden as there is said to be no merit in giving them any thing.
On the basis of various conditions laid down for giving Dāna pertaining to the qualifications of the donors and the donees, Dāna is classified into three types as follows: 1. Sättvika Dāna, i.e., virtuous or righteous gift, is the gift
offered to a worthy donee by a donor possessing the seven
Dātr-gunas, i.e., qualifications of a good donor. 2. Rājasa Dāna, i.e., passionate or emotional gift, is the gift
offered in self-advertisement for monetary display and in deference to the opinion of others.