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Positive contents of Jainism
12. Vaiyāvrtya, i.e., service.
The very perusal of the above noted exertions will show that it is a hetrogenous mass covering and a very wide field of activity. All the items are equally important and keep one engaged all throughout his life. However, it should be pointed out that Tapa is not a compulsory subject in the syllabus of religion and the option should always be commensurate to one's capacity so that self-bliss is maintained. Some items above mentioned can be interpreted with negative approach, but due to this difficult and tedious nature always partake the form of an activity. More so, slowly and slowly by practice one becomes accustomed and used to those hardships. The most tuff amongst them is Brahmacarya 32 Brahmacarya is the foremost Tapa.
Before closing, I shall like to give some detailed treatment to the last item Vaiyāvrtya because of the present day social need and having regard to the host instruction and its platform.
While dealing with Sūtra 511, Shri Abhayadevasūri in his exegesis of Thanānga says: "Vyāvrta bhāvo vaiyāvrtyam - dharmasādhanārtha annādidānas ( Sampādanaṁ )", spirit of service, e.g., making food and other aids available for the practice of religion. Che spir: of service is the sine-qua-nun of this exercise, because it falls in inner (Abhyantara tapa ) group. The service may be rendered to those who deserve it and the criterion is that it will help the recepient to strive for spiritual upliftment in any manner whatsoever directly or indirectly. Thus terms is vide enough to cover the whole extent of aims, charity, benevolence, philanthrophy, help and altruism in all their facets. Though the conservative schools takes a narrow view of the matter and says that service should be rendered by the monks as well as house-holders to the monks only — service to the house-holders is not covered. But this interpretation is not warranted by the language of the canons, because there is no specific ban as such. A house-holder is entitled for Tapa (there is no doubt or dispute about that ) and thus for vaiyāvrtya, then naturally while interpreting the words Tapasvi (austeric) sick, fellow religious colleague and family group and sangha should reasonably cover householders varieties of these classes and not only the monks, especially when the server is a laity. The very nature of this job and justice can not accomodate any favouratism or discrimination. Not only that but yetis also generally acknowledged as Sādhus then, even prior to Haribhadra period used to render medical and other services both to householders and non-house-holders. With the almost abolition of that institution, may
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