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NONVIOLENCE
can change and re-order his environment to suit his ends. In this he is a creator and an architect of his own life, whereas all other organisms have to passively submit to the shaping influence of the environment. This higher capacity in man makes him realize his kinship to the other animals. This realization of the kinship of all organisms imbues man with an ethical sense of love and sympathy towards all living creatures. Whenever man finds any being in trouble and suffering, he tries to remove the cause of its suffering and place the suffering creature out of danger. This love and suffering towards all living creatures is the necessary ethical outcome of the ultimate philosophical principle, the fundamental unity of living beings.
According to Jainism society consists of two main groups, the house-holders or persons leading an ordinary life and ascetics, Munis or Sadhus who have renounced all temporal possessions and who have as their goal the purification of the individual. The householders are the main supporters of society as a whole. They are engaged in various occupations in the trades, industry and agriculture. The house-holders' group is responsible for the economic stability of society as a whole. The house-holder is expected to set up a family which is the basic unit of society. A family implies husband, wife and children. Setting up a family, therefore, implies marriage. Marrying a wife is an indispensable condition of a successful family life.
The other group consists of ascetics, Sädhus or Munis who have renounced worldy pleasures and practice austerity daily. Jainism advocates the practice of
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