Action Vs. Intention Appearances Are Not What They Seem Presented By The Jain Society Of Metropolitan Chicago Action Vs. Intention

धम्मो मंगलमुक्किट्ठं अहिंसा संजमो तवो । देवा वि तं नमंसंति जस्स धम्मे सया मणो ।। - दसवैकालिक

  Religion is supremely auspicious.   Non-violence, self-control, and penance are its essentials.   Even heavenly gods bow down to him whose mind is always engaged in practicing religion.

What is Religion? One’s duties Service to people Ethics Good conduct Philosophy Religious tradition Spiritual discipline Meditation

What is Religion? Rituals and rites Devotion Chanting and prayer Fasting

Morality and Religion  Purity of soul which results from the above action (Removal of Karma)  Conduct in accordance with preaching by Arihants.  Our action is accompanied by love, friendship, sympathy, compassion

What is Religion? “What holds one from falling from spiritual degeneration is religion” Helps one to go up spiritually.

 Why people do good deeds? –Nature –Recognition –Compassion –Karma –Dharma –For better current life and next life

On what basis do we make moral decisions?

“ “Follow your conscience”--The Ethics of Conscience “Do the right thing”--The Ethics of Duty “Make the world a better place”-- Utilitarianism “Be a good person”--Virtue Ethics

“Follow your conscience” The Ethics of Our Inner Voice  Conscience tells us what is right or wrong  Often has a religious source  May be founded in a notion of human nature  Is often negative in character, telling us what is not right

 Conscience is an aptitude, faculty, intuition or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong and makes one to follow right path

 Why people do bad deeds? –Greed –Ego –Pride –Anger

Action and Justify OR Justify and Action

Appearances Are Not What They Seem

What deed attracts more Karma, the physical action or the intention? How are intentions judged for intending to do wrong vs accidently doing something wrong Do my actions matter if I am not mindful of any intentions I may have?

  Punya is a meritorious deed done with a feeling of self-satisfaction and accomplishment.

Punya   Noble   Virtuous   Good   Auspicious   Moral   Righteous

  Offering of innocent, non-sentient, pure and vegetarian foods   Offering of non-sentient and pure water   Offering shelter   Offering bed   Offering clothes   Good thinking   Good and kind words   Virtuous, noble and helpful activities   Paying homage to Pancha Paramesthi

  Anna Punya   Pän Punya   Layan Punya   Shayan Punya   Vastra Punya   Mana Punya   Vachan Punya   Käya Punya   Namaskär Punya

Punya   Dravya   Bhäva

  UpädeyaWorth to attain   HeyaNeed to abandon

Päp Bad deeds, Non-Virtuous activities PäpNon virtuous intensions PäpActions without being mindful

 During our enjoyment or suffering due to manifestation of Punya and Päp, we reflect either positively or negatively based on our understanding of reality.  This results in the following Four Fold Combinations of Punya & Päp.

Leshyä   The special state or transformation of the soul due to passions and activities.   Karmic stain indicating degree of purity   Activity (yoga) of mind, speech and body Nature and quantity bondage Prakriti and Pradesha Bandha   Passion (Kashäya) Intensity and duration bondage Anubhäga and Sthiti Bandha   Karma attachment to the soul, loose or tight depends upon the state of mind (Leshyä)

PunyaAnubandhiPaap ( -, + ) PunyaAnubandhiPunya ( +, + ) PaapAnubandhiPaap ( -, -) PaapAnubandhiPunya ( +,- ) Y-Axis  Intention X-Axis  Action

 Punya Anubandhi Punya –Person while enjoying the results of previous good Karma further engages in good act

 Punya Anubandhi Paap –Person while enduring the results of previous bad Karma further engages in good act

 Paap Anubandhi Punya –Person while enjoying results of previous good Karma further engages in vicious act

 Paap Anubandhi Paap –Person while suffering results of previous bad Karma further engages in vicious act

Integrity  "Integrity is one of several paths. It distinguishes itself from the others because it is the right path and the only one upon which you will never get lost." - M.H. McKee Kindness  "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." - Mark Twain Determination  "The great thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

  Noble deeds that are concealed are most esteemed. Blaise Pascal   The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature. Marcus Aurelius

  To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.”   Abraham Lincoln

“To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.” (Confucius)

When the situation needs improvement, Gandhi offers guidance: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

धर्म जागरिकSelf Awareness कः अहम् ?Who am I? का मम जाई?What is my Gati? किं च मे कुलम?What family I belong? देवता गुरवश्च के मे ?Who are my God and Guru? को मम धर्म?What is my religion? के वा अभिग्रहा मे ?Which are my Vratas? का अवस्था मे ? What is my status?

किं मया कृतं कर्तव्यं ?What duties am I executing ? किं कृत्यं च मे शेषम् ?What duties are not done? किं च शक्यं न समाचरामि ?Is my laziness responsible? किं मे परः पश्यति ?Which of my faults are seen by others? के च मयि दोषाः ?What faults do I have? किं वा स्खलितं Why I can not get rid of my faults? विवर्जयामि ?