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MEANING AND IMPLICATION
becomes truly human or that he truly lives.
If a man fails to go in such a direction, his life energy becomes stagnant at the empirical and sensual level; he lives a false life and suffers irreparable loss. As a person penetrates deeper and deeper in the search for truth, he discovers the basic truth of his spiritual nature over and above his sensual nature. At the same time he becomes aware of his spiritual unity and solidarity with all that exists. The corollary of this discovery is the cultivation of love for all beings in increasing measure, for love arises and is sustained by the awareness of spiritual unity and kinship.
Ahimsa is an attitude of mind. One need not even go outside one's house to catch a vision of or understand it. To the extent the soul becomes free from violent passions soul power is realized. Ahimsa is the supreme virtue in life. Man cannot evolve or progress without observing or practising it. 'Live and let live' is the golden rule of life. Value the life of others in the same way as you value your own life. Many great leaders and thinkers in the East and West have advocated this such as Mahatma Gandhi and Immanuel Kant.
Respect for others is the test of Ahimsā. Purity of motive is the criterion of Ahimsa. The power of Ahimsa is so great that far more undreamt of and seemingly impossible discoveries will be made in the future in the field of non-violence. Himsa or violence does not occur unless there is an intention to commit the same. In the absence of passion the mere activities of mind, speech and body are not the cause of
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