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this attitude of diffusing evil thoughts is encouraged and practiced.
The Jain canons have described in detail the results of evil thoughts so as to discourage people from indulging in such thinking. To apply these to the social framework should be the work of priests, preachers and propagators of different times. It is always effective to elaborate and define the applied aspects according to the prevalent circumstances, otherwise the intensity is lost and such matters remain only as the luxury of the academicians.
There was a time when social structure was simple and as such, simpler definitions and interpretations were sufficient to make people understand and accept the right path. Now that society has become much more complex, and a storehouse of knowledge of the physical world has been opened, the applied interpretations must be modified in terms understandable and acceptable to modern man.
The social life of an individual is dependent on an inflow of information into brain through physical senses as well as the activity indulged in through the body. The mind is the coordinator of this inflow and outflow of information and the link between body and soul. This integrated activity is what we call behaviour.
The continued and ever increasing interaction between individuals and outside factors confuses a person. A distorted relationship between him and society starts taking shape. The moment an individual starts dwelling in the misconception that he is small and insignificant as compared with society or the outside world, and he has hardly any influence, his journey into the realm of illusions commences. He either falls into the rut of inactivity and confirms his
AHIMSA: THE SCIENCE OF PEACE 53 For Private & Personal Use Only
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