Sadhvi Vishrut Vibha
There is an unflinching sprit and earnest desire in all Terapanthi monks and nuns to serve the handicapped, old and sick fellow. Right from their initiation, the monks and nuns have been getting training in rendering services to fellow ascetics, as result of which a deep sanskara of vaiavritya is inculcated in all of them. Thus, irrespective of how busy they may be in other works, this altruistic feeling develops automatically in them. The monks and nuns are taught that the services rendered to an ailing or an old ascetic amounts to helping the Acharya himself. Lord Mahavira also said that those who served the ailing and disabled ascetics really served Him. Those who are initiated in the Terapantha order rest assured that their futures lives would be free from worries concerning future illness and/or old age. Some Monastic Service Centers (Seva Kendras) have been established for serving the old and injured monks and nuns and every year a single or a couple of groups of able monks and nuns are deputed by the Acharya for this purpose. The nuns Service Centers are at Bidasar, Shree Dungargarh, Rajaldesar, Gangashahar and Ladnun. The service centre at Ladnun was established more than one century ago. People who visit these systematic and disciplined Centres of fellow-service are always impressed and many opined that they had never seen such an excellent institution of care, anywhere else.
The philosophical base of mutual services among ascetics is that householder’s services are taken only exceptionally. On account of this deep-rooted sanskara of mutual service, the religious order of Terapantha enjoys excellent spirit of co-operation and due to this virtuous quality of co-operation, the order continues to grow in strength day by day.
