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PURUSHARTHA-SIDDHYUPAYA
rushed out naked from the bath and walked about the streets in that condition when the truth of a geometrical proposition flashed upon him. The pure ecstacy of discovery drowned all impure thoughts. The saint is pure like a baby, and his nudity does not, and would not excite improper emotions in his mind or in the minds of other people, who may happen to look at him.
Such saints are the worthiest recipients of a devotee's offering.
Such offerings do good to both the giver and the recipient. The donor thereby attains purity of mind, and cultivates love for the right path, and the donee is enabled to keep up physical strength for purposes of study, meditation and spiritual advancement.
With reference to the objects to be offered, the gifts are divided into four classes :
1. Ahára, Dáná, gift of food. 2. Aushadhi Dána, gift of medicine.
3. Abhaya Dána-gift of shelter, protection from danger, attack intimidation, or threat.
4. Shastra Dána, gift of books, imparting of knowledge, useful and beneficial. संग्रहमुच्चस्थानं पादोदकमर्चनं प्रणामं च । वाकायमनःशुद्धिरेषणशुद्धिश्च विधिमाहुः॥१६८॥
168. The inanner is said to be, respectful welcome, high seat, washing the feet, worship, bowing, purity of thought, speech, and body, and purity of food.
Commentary. The nine points to be observed in offering food to a Sádhu, the highest recipient, are here described. The Jaina Sádhu is not a begging mendicant. He never asks for anything, nor does he even think of or desire for food. His visit to a habitation is a mere formal observance of one of the duties of the order. The taking of food is to him, the performance of a duty, not the gratification of a desire. The body is useful as an instrument for the development and purification of the soul. It must, therefore, be sustained by giving it the necessary nourishment. He does not relish his food, which he takes to avoid a suicide, a premature disintegration of the physical ingredients composing the body. He eats to live, and does not live to eat.
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