Spiritual Code and Restraints

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 66

replanting is Chakshudän and extending fearlessness is Abhaydän. All of them can be broadly classified in following four categories.
1) Ähärdän: Literally it means offering of food. But by implications it includes offering of drinks, clothes etc. which are vital for survival. There are numerous examples in religious books showing that by offering food to monks with the sense of sincerity, ordinary people gained immense happiness in the subsequent lives. Most of the scholars cover the offer of shelter also in this category, while some others consider it a part of the fourth category.
2) Aushadhdän: Literally it means offer of medication. But by implications it covers giving anything that helps an afflicted person in mitigating his disease or is otherwise conducive to health. Since religious pursuit becomes difficult when the person is afflicted with disease, offering what is helpful in maintaining health is considered very vital.
3) Jnändän: Literally it means providing knowledge. Actual teaching, giving books, financial aid or anything else that directly or indirectly helps a person in gaining knowledge is covered in this category. But knowledge, for spiritual purposes, is internal enlightenment. Therefore anything that helps a person in realizing the soul is true Jnändän and that is considered the highest type of Dän.
4) Abhaydän: Literally it means extending fearlessness. Getting adequate protection helps in gaining the sense of fearlessness. Shelter being protective, some authors treat the offer of shelter as Abhaydän. The basic concept is the removal of any fear that may emanate from our activities or behavior. As such, Abhaydän is a constituent of non-violence.
Jainism views every concept from the stand points of a) Dravya meaning the substance, b) Kshetra meaning place, c) Käl meaning time and d) Bhäv meaning the internal attitude. For purposes of Dän, these aspects cover the thing to be given, the place where it is given, the time when it is given and the mood in which it is given. The first three factors are common for the purposes of giving as well as for taking. But the mood of the person giving may be different from that of the recipient. That factor thus involves the perspectives of the giver as well as of the receiver. Therefore there happen to be five different aspects for evaluating Dän. Let us deal with them in the order of their importance.
1) The giver is the foremost aspect. Who is he? What is his mood? Is he entitled to give? What is his purpose in giving? These are the major factors to be considered. If he is pure at heart and is sincere in offering; if he rightfully owns what he intends to give; and if he has no ulterior motive in giving; he can be considered the most appropriate person to give. If, however, he is vicious and is not sincere in giving; or if he does not own the thing that he wants to give or wants to gain something in return; he is not the right giver. The sense of sacrifice, the reverence for deserving recipient etc. are other vital factors for determining the quality of a giver.