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Atma-parānugrahārtham svasya dravyajātasyānna-pānādeh pātretisargo dānam | - Tattvārthabhāşya, 7.33.
That is, – The giving of one's belongings like food, water, etc., with a view to help the self and the others is charity.
Ratnatraydbhyaḥ svavittaparityāgo dānam ratnatrayasādhanaditsā vā | - Dhavalā, Book 13, p. 389.
That is, - The giving of one's money and things such as the means of practicing the Trigem (right vision, right knowledge and right conduct) to those who are endowed with it is charity.
Ātmanaḥ śreyas ’nveşām ratnatraya samrddhaye | Svaparānugrahāyettham yatsyātaddānamisyate ||
- Upāsakādhyayana, 768. That is, – The giving of one's belongings for enriching the Trigem and with a view to help the self and the others is charity.
Krpaņe'anāthadaridre, vyasanaprāpte ca rogaśokahate | Yaddiyate krpārthādanukampāt tadbhaveddānam ||
- Umāsvāti, Abhidhāna Rājendrakośa, p. 360. That is, - What is given with compassion, to the miserable, the orphans, those that are in difficulty, those that suffer from sickness and are grie stricken, is called charity.
Comments - Charity means giving. Anything given without relinquishing its ownership is not called charity and cannot be categorised as dharma. Charity means relinquishing own ownership and recognising that of the other to whom it is given in charity. Charity helps in reduction of attachment in the giver. Again, it must be thought of as to what is being given in charity. One may not thoughtlessly give stale food to the beggar and poison to the neighbour.
CHARITY IS DHARMA Dānam sīlam ca tavo bhāvo evam cauviho dhammo | Savvajiņehim bhaņio, tahā duhā suacaritehim ||
- Saptatiśatasthānaprakaraņa, verse 96.
Appendices
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