Jains Through Time

Author(s): Shilapi Sadhvi
Publisher: Veerayatan

Page 19

The Jains through Time
Those good deeds that you get others to do, or you inspire others to do, those deeds that you approve of and know are good deeds, do
them yourself! Some ignorant people say: "Brother! This man is ill, please help him. It
would be a good deed. We won't do it ourselves, but you do it." I wonder what sort of religion or philosophy this is, and am both amused and saddened by it. If it is a good
deed, a deed worth doing, an act of compassion, then how could performing this
deed hamper their religion? If you are permitted to motivate others to perform good deeds and then approve these deeds yourself, why then should your doing it be disallowed? Good deeds are always worth doing, whether
they are done by a sadhu or a shravak.