Religion and Philosophy of the Jainas

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Jain International Ahmedabad

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RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE JAINAS
prescribed certain rules for man. He was asked to do certain things, not hoping to reap fruit therefrom but in order simply to perform certain duties that he owed to the world. In this way step by step he can free himself from the shackles of animal desires and learn the truths of a higher degree. One of those rules was that he should perform every day five sacrifices. The first sacrifice was to the devas, the shining powers and intelligences of the upper world. Everything that gives nourishment to the human body is by correspondence related to the subtle energies of other worlds, is in fact fed and nourished by those energies. Man is, therefore, under obligation to those forces and if he receives so much from them, let him give something in return, let him not be selfish. If his body is being vitalised by pure air let him do something that will make the surrounding atmosphere pure. If he is nourished by pure food let him offer certain oblations to those forces that supply purity to food, and so in everything let him give something in return, he will then feel the satisfaction of having done something for whatever benefit he received of others. He will feel that he is not a beggar nor a thief, but an honest and self-dependent person.
The second sacrifice is to be made to parents and ancestors. We owe so much to our parents. They have brought us up, fed and clothed us, remained awake many a night to care for us in babyhood. It would be ungrateful on our part if we did not do anything in retum for all the benefits we received from them. If they are alive and have grown old, let us take care of them and serve them in any way that is likely to do them good. After death let us keep their names fresh in our memory. In the human evolution they have played their part, let us reciprocate their work by its appreciation and by continuing what they have done so that there shall be no break in the upward evolution of the human race.
The third sacrifice was in favour of men who needed our help and care. Every man is a part of humanity and by helping a fellow man we help humanity. If the future salvation of man is based on love, it must be practical love, not a mere idea.
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