Notes on Modern Jainism

Author(s): Mrs Sinclair Stevenson
Publisher: Oxford

Page 86

MODERN JAINISM.
viii. Punya. Punya (494) or merit can be earned in any of the following nine ways :
Nine ways of (1) Anna Punya (2401 y 34): giving Earning Merit. food to the poor or to mendicants.
(2) Pāna Punya (4191 414): giving water to the thirsty. Cold water can never be given to ascetics, and the hot water given must be surplus hot water, and not water specially warmed for them.
(3) Layana Punya (41409 494): building houses for the homeless, or setting aside special buildings for ascetics, Jaina monks from Mõlwā and Mārwār will never stay at an Upāsaro (monastery), but beg the loan of empty houses. They are afraid, if they used one specially erected for them, of sharing in the guilt of building houses (by which life may have been destroyed).
(4) S'ayana Punya ( 21491 494): providing seats, beds or bedding for those who are in need. It is in order to earn this merit that laymen lend to an Upāsaro the broad benches the monks sleep on.
(5) Vastra Punya ( 921 794): merit gained by giving clothing to the poor and naked, or renewing the five garments permitted to a monk.
(6) Mana Punya (749 494): thinking well of others. 'It is considered very meritorious to think of the “ bright side” of other people, and to remember their good qualities whilst forgetting their bad. One should also constantly plan to promote the happiness of others.