Action Vs. IntentionAction Vs. Intention

Appearances Are Not What They Seem

Presented By The Jain Society Of Metropolitan Chicago

Action Vs. Intention

धम्मो� मो�गलमोक्कि��ट्ठं� अहिं��सा� सा�जमो� तवो� ।दे�वो� विवो त� नमो�सा�वित जस्सा धम्मो� साया� मोणो� ।।

-देसावो���लिल�

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

What is Religion?What is Religion?

•Rituals and rites•Devotion•Chanting and prayer•Fasting

Morality and Religion Morality and Religion

Purity of soul which results from the above Purity of soul which results from the above action (Removal of Karma)action (Removal of Karma)

Conduct in accordance with preaching by Conduct in accordance with preaching by Arihants.Arihants.

Our action is accompanied by love, Our action is accompanied by love, friendship, sympathy, compassionfriendship, sympathy, compassion

What is Religion?What is Religion?

““What holds one from falling from What holds one from falling from spiritual degeneration is religion”spiritual degeneration is religion”

Helps one to go up spiritually.Helps one to go up spiritually.

Why people do good deeds?Why people do good deeds?– NatureNature– RecognitionRecognition– CompassionCompassion– KarmaKarma– DharmaDharma– For better current life and next lifeFor better current life and next life

On what basis do we make moral decisions?On what basis do we make moral decisions?

On what basis do we make moral On what basis do we make moral decisions?decisions?

“ ““ “Follow your conscience”--The Follow your conscience”--The Ethics of Ethics of ConscienceConscience

““Do the right thing”--Do the right thing”--The Ethics of DutyThe Ethics of Duty

““Make the world a better place”--Make the world a better place”--UtilitarianismUtilitarianism

““Be a good person”--Be a good person”--Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics

““Follow your conscience”Follow your conscience”The Ethics of Our Inner VoiceThe Ethics of Our Inner Voice

Conscience tells us what is right or wrongConscience tells us what is right or wrong Often has a religious sourceOften has a religious source May be founded in a notion of human natureMay be founded in a notion of human nature Is often negative in character, telling us what Is often negative in character, telling us what

is not rightis not right

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

Why people do bad deeds?Why people do bad deeds?– GreedGreed– EgoEgo– PridePride– AngerAnger

Action and JustifyAction and Justify

OROR

Justify and ActionJustify 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

Upädeya Worth to attain Heya Need to abandon

PäpPäp Bad deeds, Non-Virtuous Bad deeds, Non-Virtuous activitiesactivities

PäpPäp Non virtuous intensionsNon virtuous intensions

PäpPäp Actions without being mindfulActions without being mindful

During our enjoyment or suffering due to During our enjoyment or suffering due to manifestation of Punya and Päp, we reflect manifestation of Punya and Päp, we reflect either positively or negatively based on our either positively or negatively based on our understanding of reality. understanding of reality.

This results in the following Four Fold This results in the following Four Fold Combinations of Punya & Päp.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)

PunyaPunya

AnubandhiAnubandhi

PaapPaap

( - , + )( - , + )

PunyaPunya

AnubandhiAnubandhi

PunyaPunya

( +, + )( +, + )

PaapPaap

AnubandhiAnubandhi

PaapPaap

( - , -)( - , -)

PaapPaap

AnubandhiAnubandhi

PunyaPunya

( +,- )( +,- )

Y-A

xis

Inte

ntio

n X-Axis Action

Punya Anubandhi PunyaPunya Anubandhi Punya– Person while enjoying the results of Person while enjoying the results of

previous good Karma further engages in previous good Karma further engages in good actgood act

Punya Anubandhi PaapPunya Anubandhi Paap– Person while enduring the results of Person while enduring the results of

previous bad Karma further engages in previous bad Karma further engages in good actgood act

Paap Anubandhi PunyaPaap Anubandhi Punya– Person while enjoying results of previous Person while enjoying results of previous

good Karma further engages in vicious act good Karma further engages in vicious act

Paap Anubandhi PaapPaap Anubandhi Paap– Person while suffering results of previous Person while suffering results of previous

bad Karma further engages in vicious act bad Karma further engages in vicious act

Integrity Integrity "Integrity is one of several paths.  It distinguishes "Integrity is one of several paths.  It distinguishes

itself from the others because it is the right path and itself from the others because it is the right path and the only one upon which you will never get lost."the only one upon which you will never get lost."- M.H. McKee- M.H. McKee

KindnessKindness "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear

and the blind can see."and the blind can see."- Mark Twain- Mark Twain

DeterminationDetermination "The great thing in this world is not so much where "The great thing in this world is not so much where

we are, but in what direction we are moving."we are, but in what direction we are moving."- Oliver Wendell Holmes- 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.”

धमो! ज�गरि#�Self Awareness

�$ अ�मो% ? Who am I?�� मोमो ज�ई? What is my Gati?हिं�� च मो� � लमो? What family I belong?दे�वोत� ग#वोश्च �� मो� ? Who are my God and Guru?

�� मोमो धमो!? What is my religion?�� वो� अभि*ग्र�� मो� ? Which are my Vratas?�� अवोस्था� मो� ? What is my status?

किं�� मया� �� तं �तं�व्यं ? What duties am I executing ?

किं�� �� त्या च म� शे�षम� ? What duties are not done?

किं�� च शेक्या न सम�चरा�मिम ? Is my laziness responsible?

किं�� म� परा� पश्यातितं ? Which of my faults are seen by others?

�� च ममिया दो�ष�� ? What faults do I have?

किं�� वा� स्खलि"तं Why I can not get rid of my faults? तिवावार्ज�या�मिम ?