Page 37 - Courage Redifined

on all days. The great ascetics (Sadhus and Sadhvis) who
have renounced the material world come in this category.
Appropriate respect should be shown to them in the following
manner. First, one should bow down to them, then ask about
their well-being and then request them to accept offerings of
food, clothes, place to stay, etc. Then one should try to fulfill
their requirements in the best and fastest possible way. This
is how one should worship these great ascetics. Giving them
appropriate respect in this manner is a form of humanity.

Sadhu means a gentleman who has come from near and far.
On meeting them, you should first greet them warmly by
saying, “Welcome. Where have you come from ? Please accept
water and light food. Can I be of any other help to you ?”
Serving them water and snacks is the appropriate treatment
to be meted out to Sadhus*. Sadharmik* Bhakti also comes
under this category.

Advantages of Sadharmik Bhakti :

How enthusiastic are you to greet others ?

That old Rajasthani man warmly greeted and served those
learned men. Why did he waste his hard-earned money in
feeding strangers ? Because he very well understood that,
1) Since innumerable births, we have fed only ourselves and
our family which is an animal’s characteristic. Welcoming
and feeding Atithis and Sadhus warmly is a human’s
characteristic.

2) One becomes narrow-minded in just filling one’s own
stomach. On the other hand, one becomes broad-minded
and generous by taking care of Atithis, Sadhus and
Sadharmikas. What should you aim to acquire in this life ?

* Sadhu - Jain monks
* Sadharmik – A person who follows the same religion as you.
Greed - The Root of all Evil 27