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Vātsalyamamilapyate | Kim? Sadharmavipadu-cchedaḥ svayūthyānāmāpado nirasanam |
- Anagāra Dharmāmsta, Svo. Tī., 2.109. That is, - Affection is being talked about. What is affection? To destroy the troubles of the coreligionists and to dispel the dangers of the religious order is affection.
Rogārditaśramārtānām sādhūnām grhiņāmapi | Yathāyogopacārastadvātsalyam dharmakāmyayā ||
- Bhāvasangraha, 416. That is, - To properly treat the ascetics and the householders that are harassed by diseases and are tired from bodily labours is affection. Vätsalyam tadguņotkarşahetave sodhatam manaḥ||
- Lāțīsamhitā, 3.113; Pañcādhyāyī, 2470. That is, - The mind that is ever ready to promote the qualities of the religious order is said to be affection.
Comments - Vātsalya has been given a place among the eight parts of right vision. Literally, the natural feeling of liking and protecting the near and dear ones like father, mother, brother, sister, children, etc., is said to be affection. Thus, affection can be misinterpreted as attachment. However, the affection as a part of right vision is a kind of detached feeling. If it is tarnished by attachment then it cannot remain a part of right vision. The examples of motherly affection have been cited in order to explain the intensity of the feelings, albeit detached, for the faith and the faithful. Tīrthankaras are said to be universally affectionate. Their affection is for every creature of the universe. There was a time when the faith and the faithful members of the order needed protection and promotion for reasons of persecution by the other religionists and it was at such times that the masters called for affection for the coreligionists but truly speaking its meaning cannot be restricted to such narrow limits. Actually detached affection can be and should be for everyone even if he happens to be a member of the persecuting
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