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THE LIFE
Mahavir did not stop at the concept of equality of all life forms. He went still deeper. In the history of human knowledge he was, most probably, the first person to conceive that the existence of living beings is not confined to the visible animal kingdom. It goes beyond the world conceivable through normal physical senses. He could perceive and conceive that living world existed even at the microlevel of particles.
It is obvious that this concept could not have been developed without a profound insight into the functioning of living organisms at all levels. The basics on this subject are very sound but, once again, the interpretations appear to be representative of the limited knowledge and fixed thinking of the later traditional authors.
The words used, by Jains, for living organisms are Jiva and Prani, which are common throughout the Indian religions. Jiva means to live; be or remain alive; alive; living; and existing. Prani means one endowed with breath or life. The word more commonly used by Jains is Jiva, which, to them, also means soul.
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