Page 21 - Fait Personified
P. 21

iv) Court cases related to property and business, feuds
                 among brothers and family members accumulate due
                 to increasing greed and avarice.

              v) Obscene cinema, visits to pubs, etc. are all a result of
                 the unquenching thirst for sensual pleasures.

           In an age when even such activities are not considered wrong,
           is there any question of emphasis on activities considered sinful
           from the Jain religion’s point of view? Does today’s Jain
           Shravak* consider avoiding green vegetables on Tithis**,
           observing celibacy, restraining himself from unnecessary violent
           activities as his duty? Does he feel ashamed if he forgets or
           ignores his duty? Does he regret his wrong-doings? Moreover,

           does he even consider them wrong? It seems that the current
           generation has forgotten the definition of sins. Sins are no
           longer considered harmful and worth abandoning.

           In a life filled to the brim with sinful activities, how can we
           develop and preserve good and noble thoughts? Only if we
           keep a check on our greed can we realize that driven by
           greed, we have drowned in the vast sea of sins. Contemplate
           – what is the need of nourishing such greed and avarice?

           Let us return to the story of the killers.

                             Killers’ check on greed

           The killers accepted the money to kill the saint. Late in the


           *  Shravak – Jain house holder)
           **  Tithis – 05 holy days every month wherein special oaths are to be
              undertaken.... like not eating green vegetables, etc.


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