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38 : PART IV
GUIDELINES TO MAHAVIR-DARSHAN
facility to other living beings, it leads one to the highest state in the higher worlds. Charity finally yields the eternal status of liberation. Discriminating persons, therefore, accept it in normal course with all sincerity.
(v) This is how the householders are expected to use their earnings in charity--the best ones 25 per cent, the middle ones 10 per cent and the average ones 6 per cent of their income. Ancient Acharyas accepted such high standards of charity.
(vi) Be it known that the success of a healthy body lies in austerities and devotion, of wealth in charity and of power and intellect in doing all-round good to others.
(vii) Best is the donor who resorts to charity without being asked.
(viii) No treasure equals charity, no enemy equals greed, no ornament equals character and no wealth equals contentment.
(ix) The main purpose of the wealth of best of men is to bring an end to the calamities of all other living beings. It is known as “ Lakshmi” (The Goodess of Wealth ) precisely because of this.
LESSON XI
HUMILITY (VINAYA) Introduction :
Humility is internal and devotional respect towards the personalities and objects deserving respect.
Really speaking, humility is just a natural inherent virtue of the Atman. It is inherent in the soul with other virtues like knowledge, faith, contenment, forgiveness, etc. If it is so, question may arise, why is it not experienced in daily life? The reply is that the common men of the world are not aware of their own inherent virtue. Again, men do not pay attention to this inner and natural virtue but go on constantly nourishing their infatuation in the form of arrogance. Thus, ignorance and reverse practice are the causes of non-attainment of the virtue of humility.
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