Notes on Modern Jainism

Author(s): Mrs Sinclair Stevenson
Publisher: Oxford

Page 87

THE NINE CATEGORIES,
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(7) Vacann Punya (43401 404): speaking well of and to others. This includes merit gained by speaking as highly as possible of others, giving them good advice, instruction, lectures etc, and always speaking politely.
(8) S'arira Punya (21772 714): serving others at some bodily trouble to oneself, and personally looking after the sick and aged. A layman cannot thus serve monks, who must be served by their brother monks; if, however, a layman has taken the Poşadha vow,* he can serve a monk as long as the vow lasts.
(9) Namaskāra Punya (11742312 494): showing reve rence to elders, superiors and ascetics, One can acquire this form of merit by bowing, by salaaming with both hands, and by generally showing reverence in bodily postures.
The fruit of Punya is divided into fifty-two classes of rewards, which vary according to the zeal with which the
action was performed. Some actions, for of instance, bring fame, some health of body Punya.
or beauty of form or voice, others assure your being born in an exalted family, or even win Mokşa, and the highest of all raises the doer to the rank of a Tirthankara.
Although the Jaina have set before themselves so complete a system of altruism, and buttressed it by rewards appealing so strongly to self interest, it seems to have but little influence on their conduct to any but Jaina and ascetics. The callous indifference to human suffering shown by this rich community during the famine which devastated
The frit of
* See page 43.