Book Title: Way of Life Part 3
Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

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Page 316
________________ 304 THE WAY OF LIFE If you happen to fall into such a condition and if no one is there to render service to you, then you will understand the physical and mental agonies and anguish that your condition causes to you. Then even if you wish for death, Death does not take you away; and you will have to lead an absolutely helpless and painful life. HOW TO RENDER SERVICE ? You should not render service to the indigent with a feeling of contempt or anger. You must render service to them in such a way that they feel happy and encouraged to live. You must render service to them in such a way that they do not feel that they are receiving an obligation from you. You must also receive instruction regarding the proper way to render service to such people. There are some institutions where such instructions are imparted to people. Actually, instructions are not given but they are received. It is not necessary that the sons and daughters should be charitable just because the mother is charitable. They may say to their mother, "Mummy, if we render service to these needy people in our house, it may bring some trouble. Such disabled and decrepit people should be sent to the hospital. If you are so compassionate, you may give them some money for their expenses”. Such heartless and unkind children cannot experience the inner felicity that results from doing a deed of charity. You must ask those noble people who have spent all their life in doing deeds of benevolence what kind of felicity results from doing deeds of charity. How they secure the heartfelt blessings of the indigent; and how they render service, you must see for yourselves. AN EXAMPLE FROM JAPAN Recently, I happened to read about an actual incident that took place in Japan. While I was reading that story, I shed tears of joy. There are two restaurants near the Yoyogi station in Tokyo. Hayashi and his wife are the owners of the restaurants. In these restaurants, the management is carried on by Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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