Jaina Philosophy

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi, Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: World Jain Confederation

Page 77

WARGADOR
The Jaina Philosophy let him not be selfish. If his body is being vitalized by pure air let him do something that will make the surrounding atmosphere pure. If he is nourished by pure food let him offer certain oblations to those forces that supply purity to food; and so in everything let him give something in return; he will then feel the satisfaction of having done something for whatever benefit he received of others. He will feel that he is hot a beggar nor a thief, but an honest and self-dependent person.
The second sacrifice is to be made to parents and ancestors. We owe so much to our parents. They have brought us up, fed and clothed us, remained awake many a night to care for us in babyhood. It would be ungrateful on our part if we did not do anything in return for all the benefits we received from them. If they are alive and have grown old, let us take care of them and serve them in any way that is likely to do them good. After death let us keep their names fresh in our memory. In the human evolution they have played their part, let us reciprocate their work by its appreciation and by continuing what they have done so that there shall be no break in the upward evolution of the human race.
The third sacrifice was in favour of men - those who needed our help and care. Every man is a part of humanity and by helping a fellow man we help humanity. If the future salvation of man is based on love, it must be practical love, not a mere idea, and that love is to be carried out by actually helping those who need help. This sacrifice must necessarily put an end to the growing selfishness of man and by its constant performance, his mental attitude is so thoroughly changed in reference to the external world that the greatest anxieties and worries would not agitate him; in all the troubles and changes his mind would be perfectly calm and quiet and he will learn to interpret and understand rationally the apparent injustice and inequalities of the world.