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Punātyātmānam pūyate'neneti vā punyam |
- Tattvārthavārtika, 6.3.4. Punātyāmānamiti punyam pūyate pavitrīkriyate aneneti vā punyam || - Tattvārthavrti Śruta, 6.3.
That is, - What purifies the soul is said to be Punya or merit. Punyam karma śubham proktam | - Ādhyātmasāra. 18-60. That is, - Auspicious activities are meritorious.
Comments – Those who consider punya or merit as deplorable must ponder over the abovementioned quotes from the sacred scriptures. Even if we accept that activities of kindness, compassion, charity, etc., result in meritorious karmic bonds, there is no harm because eventually the meritorious acts go to purify the soul. Pāvam havai asesaṁ puņnamasesam ca havai pariņāmā| Parināmādo bandho mukkho, Jinasāsane dittho ||
- Bhāvapāhuda, 116. That is, - It is the volitional disposition that results in merit and it is the volitional disposition that results in sin. That is how the Jaina precepts go.
DHARMA IS IN MILDNESS
Kula-rūpa-jādi buddhisu tava-suda-silesu gāravam kiscil Jo na vi kuvvadi samano maddavadhammam have tassa ||
- Dvādaśānuprekṣā, 72. That is, – The mildness of a monk lies in not being proud of his high caste, good appearance, good family, sharp and keen intellect, severe penance undertaken, scriptural knowledge gained, and righteousness of conduct. Jātyādimadāvesādabuimānābhāvo mārdavam
- Sarvārthasiddhi, 9.6.
That is, - Absence of pride, borne out of arrogance of high caste etc., is mildness.
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