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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
12
JAINISM, VEGETARIANISM
AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE
PRESENT WORLD
Jainism emerged from the ancient Indian Sramanic Stream of throught that emphasised ahimsa, non-violence or non-hurting; and later it prospored considerably and is still living proudly with the Doctrine of Ahimsa as its fundamental principle of philosophy and practice in the actual life of its followers. This doctrine is based on the right perception of equality of souls or living beings, which the earliest Jaina Canonical texts explain in their simplest
terms:
Jain Education International
83
The Acaranga-sutra, the first anga (book) of the Ardhamagadhi Canon states: All beings are fond of life; they like pleasure, dislike pain, shun destruction and long to live on. To all beings life is dear1. The Mularadhana, one of the earliest works of the Pro-canon of the Digambaras elucidates:. Just as you do not like pain, so also other beings dislike it. Knowing this, treat them ever as your own self (and abstain from causing any injury to them). It is essential to note in this context that, the term ahimsa- non- violence or non-injury has a negative look or fromat; but it also has the positive side bearing the purport of daya - compassion for living beings, rakṣa - protection to the life
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