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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
GOLDEN STEPS TO SALVATION
GIVING CHARITY
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
अनुग्रहार्थं स्वस्यातिसर्गो दानम् ॥ विधि- द्रव्य-दातृ-पात्रविशेषात्तद्विशेषः ॥
Acharya Padmasagarsuri
OH, YOU MAGNANIMOUS PEOPLE!
Yesterday, we thought about self-sacrifice. Even while giving some help to others, we have to make some self-sacrifice. But one can make self-sacrifice without giving away anything. A sadhu is an anagar. He renounces his home; but he does not give away his house to anyone. Self-sacrifice implies discarding attachments but when we make a gift, it has to be received by
someone.
- तत्त्वार्थ सूत्र ७/३३-३४
Anugrahartham Swasyatisargo danam Vidhi-dravya-datru-Patravisheshattadvisheshah
-Tatvartha Sutra, 7/33-34
"A gift is given when it is received by someone. The quality of a gift made depends on propriety, the thing given, the giver of the gift and the fitness of the person to whom it is given." This sutra makes it clear that in giving away anything discretion is more important than self-sacrifice. The propriety (vidhi) in respect of a gift is to think of the place, and time for making the gift and the principles of the recipient. Dravyavichara (the consideration of the article to be given away) is to consider the quality of the article that we are giving away and its usefulness to the recipient.
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Datrivichara (consideration of the giver of the gift) is to consider the extent of the giver's faith and his attitude towards the recipient. This implies that the giver should have no
