Universe: Making the right choice

ALL religions of the world lay stress on charity and helping the needy. Some advocate that a person should donate 1/10th of his earnings. Guru Nanak’s emphasis on feeding the hungry led to the institution of langar in the Sikh tradition. Today, lakhs of people are served langar in gurdwaras. Every person, whether rich or poor, has to sit on the ground in a straight line called ‘pangat’ and partake of the food being served with all humility. When we talk of humility, it is applicable to the giver also. There should be no thought of ego in the attitude of the giver as well.

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In Jainism, the emphasis is on ‘karmas’ or deeds. Karmas are also called the ‘karmic account’ of a man during his lifetime. These include both good as well as bad deeds.

Lord Mahavira deliberated upon nine types of good deeds or ‘punyas’, which relate to charity or donating to the needy.

The nine ‘punyas’ are ann’ (food), ‘paan’ (water), ‘layan’ (land), ‘shayan’ (sleep), ‘vastra’ (clothes), ‘man’ (mind), ‘vachan’ (speech), ‘kaya’ (body), and, finally, ‘namaskar’ (to bow with humility). The nine ‘punyas’ hold a significant place in Jain religion.

1. ‘Ann’ (food): Only a hungry man knows the importance of food. And after eating, he blesses one from the core of his heart. It is rightly said, “Bhukhe pait bhajan na hoye Gopala”, which means a person cannot even take God’s name if he is hungry.

2. ‘Paan’ (water): Water is all-important for a thirsty man. After quenching his thirst, he would remember God and thank Him.

3. ‘Layan’ (land): If a person donates land for building a religious place or a hospital, he becomes great in the eyes of God.

4. ‘Shayan’ (sleep): A tired man feels indebted to the person who provides all such things that are essential for a night’s rest. These include material to sleep, like a cot, bedsheet, pillow, blanket, etc.

5. ‘Vastra’ (clothes): Donate clothes to a person who is trembling in the cold. After wearing the warm clothes, he will express his gratitude to the giver and offer his blessings.

6. ‘Mann’ (a noble-thinking mind): A man with noble thinking heightens his position in everybody’s eyes.

7. ‘Vachan’ (speaking kind words and encouraging someone): Kind words spoken with the right intention will boost the morale of a person who has come to the conclusion that all the ways for his well-being have been closed.

8. ‘Kaya’ (body): Offer to comfort someone through noble efforts. For example, help an elderly person cross a busy road by holding his or her hand.

9. ‘Namaskar’ (humility): Bow before everyone with humility and forgiveness.

Likewise, there are seven bad deeds. These are ‘jua’ (gambling), which pushes one into the quagmire of economic loss; ‘mansahar’or eating meat; ‘sharab’ or drinking wine; ‘vaishagaman’ or desire for a prostitute; ‘shikaar’or the hunting of innocent animals; ‘chori’, stealing or taking away things without permission; and ‘par-istrigaman’, the desire for a woman other than your wife.

The choice ultimately is that of an individual, but the path shown is clear. That is as true for Jainism as for any other religion.

— The writer is based in Ludhiana