True Daan: A Combination of Detachment and Desire

Written by Sakhi Shah and Rishi Zaveri

Understanding Daan

“Giving back to the community” takes on different meanings for different people. To some, it can be simply volunteering at the local library. For others, it could mean making a $10 donation to an animal shelter in their town. No matter what form it takes, the act of giving involves letting go. This practice of detachment, or Aparigraha, is one of the core pillars of Jainism. Aparigraha is emphasized through Daan (charity), and it revolves around letting go of materialistic attachments. There are 4 types of Daan: Ähär Daan (giving food), Aushadh Daan (giving medicine), Shästra Daan (giving knowledge), and Abhaya Daan (giving shelter).

The four kinds of Daan, or charity, as detailed in Jainism.

While one kind of Daan isn’t considered to be more worthy than the other, the merits of one’s charitable act can be considered in the context of one’s circumstances. The story of Bhimo Kundaliyo, which took place around 900 years ago, shows how even the smallest acts of charity can be memorialized forever.

The Story of Bhimo Kundaliyo

Bhimo was a poor villager who made his living by selling pots (kundi) of Ghee (clarified butter), thus receiving the nickname, Kundaliyo. Once, he decided to go to Shatrunjay Tirth, the holiest of Jain pilgrimage sites. He took the little money he had with him. While doing Darshan (praying) and Pujä (a kind of ritual) there, he became overwhelmed with affection and devotion for the Tirth.

Shatrunjay Tirth, an important pilgrimage site for Jains. (Source)

At that time, Bahad, the minister of King Kumarpal, was undertaking the renovations of the Shatrunjay temples. When Bhimo saw Minister Bahad collecting donations for this project, he decided to give all the money he owned. Compared to the large amounts of money others had donated and the incredible sum needed in total, his contribution was almost negligible at face value. Yet, Minister Bahad was impressed by Bhimo’s devotion — he had given up his entire life savings without a second thought. In return, he put Bhimo’s name at the top of the list of donors, where it can still be found carved in the wall of one of the temples today.

Minister Bahad put Bhimo Kundaliyo’s name at the top of the temple’s list of donors.

Bhimo was a Shrävak (Jain layman) from long ago who dedicated his entire life’s savings to a worthy cause. However, there are also modern-day examples of individuals in our community who have dedicated their lives to helping others. One such figure is Kumarpalbhai V. Shah.

Kumarpalbhai V. Shah

Shrävak Kumarpalbhai V. Shah. (Source)

Kumarpalbhai V. Shah is an exemplar of Jain duty, both externally and internally. He took the vow of celibacy at the age of 15 and turned his attention to social service. He founded and currently runs Vardhaman Seva Kendra, a charitable organization. Through this organization, Kumarpalbhai has worked behind the scenes for countless causes, including but by no means limited to disaster relief, poverty, access to education, Tirth protection, and Jiv Dayä (care for animals).

Donors contribute millions of dollars to his charity every year because he is trusted to use the money wisely. Various leaders of the country even come to him for help. In fact, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kumarpalbhai’s organization was given the responsibility of handling medical and economic relief for many villages around Ahmedabäd.

Along with these hefty responsibilities, Kumarpalbhai still maintains the personal duties and traditions of a true Jain Shrävak. He wears simple white clothes, lives modestly, and spends his free time (outside of community service) in spiritual pursuits, such as by completing Sämäyik and Pratikraman (two kinds of Jain prayers). He does not travel at night, due to the extra loss of life possible in the darkness. He moved from the bustling city of Mumbai to the remote village of Dholka, Gujarat so that he could maximize his time spent in service, rather than putting it towards entertaining guests and visitors. He has no money of his own, and whatever he had, he has long since donated. He never takes any credit for the work he does and chooses to stay anonymous as much as possible. Thus, he is recognized as a true public servant — he does not engage in charity for recognition or fame, nor does he use his charity as justification for an expensive or lavish lifestyle. His generosity is rather motivated by his values and his dedication to help others, inspiring countless others to strive to do the same.

In an extremely rare event, prominent Acharya Shri Ratnasundar Suriji Maharaj Saheb (an extremely knowledgeable and spiritually advanced Jain ascetic) wrote a book about Shravak Kumarpalbhai V. Shah. It is titled “Kalyug Ka Kamaal — Kumarpal V. Shah,” which translates to “Wonder of the Modern Era — Kumarpal V. Shah.” (Source)

What Does This Mean For Us?

The goal of Daan in Jainism is not necessarily to give large sums of money but to give according to our capability. With the right Bhäv (intention), regardless of your circumstance, any acts of charity you are able to perform are just as meaningful as any other. Don’t be discouraged if you find yourself unable to donate as much as someone else. Though we are each limited by our physical realities, each of our mental capacities is limitless. Acharya Shri Ratnasundar Suriji Maharaj Saheb sums this up with the following quote:

“Daan paisa thi nathi thatu, daan haiya thi thai chhe.”
Translation: “Charity is not done with money, it is done with the heart.”

What does this mean for us? Imagine you are walking to work one day and you encounter a person experiencing houselessness. You check your wallet and find that you only have a few coins. You give them what you have but hold onto the desire of wanting to have done more. As this desire matures, you will automatically begin thinking of different ways to help. You might leave your home with more money, or carry some non-perishable snacks or other items that will be useful for them.

Without the right Bhaav, one may not engage in meaningful charity and therefore be unable to take the opportunity to give to others (if they have the means).

With the right Bhaav, one will always be looking to engage in meaningful charity and will be able to give when the opportunity arises (if they have the means).

Keeping this thought — this Bhaav — of Daan in your mind will guarantee that you will be able to increase your impact on the world around you. If we hold this idea of Daan close to our hearts, we will find that we, too, are capable of the immense generosity seen in both Bhimo Kundaliyo and Kumarpal V. Shah!

If anything in this article has offended you or gone against the teachings of Bhagwän Mahävir, we sincerely ask for forgiveness. Michhämi Dukkadam!