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NON-VIOLENCE : ITS LIMITS IN EVERYDAY MUNDANE LIFE
An analysis of religions such as Hinduism, Budhism and Jainism leads us to recognize that they make a distinction between the conduct of a layman, that is a person engaged in a worldly pursuit of any kind, and that of persons who have entirely renounced all worldly pursuits and have become monks, ascetics or adopted the discipline of a saint. A much higher standard of morality is required of the latter, one reason being that he is looked upon as an example for the former to follow. He embodies the ideal which the layman is striving for but has not yet reached. Thus the life of the ascetic differs from that of the layman.
A layman abstains from intentional killing or from Himsā toward any living creature. For the layman the extent to which Ahimsā or non-violence is to be practised would depend upon the circumstances. The above religions declare that a layman must perform his duties with due care and caution, without any ill will, malice, anger, greed, deceit, pride or passion. A layman's life should tend to an all-round progress in all developments of life and spheres of action. A
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