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Nānāgļhavyati – karārjitapāpapuñjaiḥ,
khañjikrtāni grhiņo na tathā vratāni! Uccaiḥ phalam vindadhatiha yathaikadāpi,
prītyātiśuddhamanasā krtapātradānam || 2.13 || That is - the excellent result that is obtained through charity given by pure hearted householders is not obtained by those who devote themselves fully to their household affairs and whose backs bow at carrying their unbearable weight. It means : charity is best even for a householder; it yields better result than that obtained through other mundane activities.
In charity, the importance is what is given is not that much as it is of how and with which kind of volitional dispositions it is given. The result of charity is always commensurate with the nobility of the inner thoughts at the time of giving and with greater or lesser degree of good thoughts accompanying the charitable activity. As has been said – "Yădrsi bhāvnā yasya, siddhirbhavati tādrśī”. That is – the result of any activity is commensurate with the inner thoughts accompanying that activity.
The dharma in the form of charity is at the root of all virtues, therefore, from the spiritual point of view cultivating the charitable quality is sowing the seeds of other good qualities and from the practical point of view it is the basis of reconciliation of the human system.
Dullahā u muhādāi, muhājīvi vi dullahā | Muhādāi muhājīvī, dovi gacchati soggaiṁ ||
- Daśavaikālika sūtra, 5.1.100. That is – It is rare to find those that give without any expectation and those that take with similar disposition. Both - one that gives without any desire and the one that takes without it - go to good destinies. · Charity benefits both – the one that gives and the one that takes. The benefit to the giver lies in the detached disposition that he develops as a result of giving and the resultant renunciation of the things that are given in charity. Besides, it also develops the much-desired virtue of
Positive Non-Violence
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