Page 21 - Faith Personified

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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