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6. THE SRAMANIC WAY
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We find a remarkable homogeneous culture and civilization, broadly speaking, throughout the vast region stretchSpiritual ing from Egypt to Bharata, stronger Experience certain points and weaker at others, with necessary variations conditioned by Geography and Geology, with no other culture opposed to it in any other part of the world till the rise, growth and hegemony of Aryanism. Such a significant and deep homogeneity could not be wrought and maintained by mere secular forces. There was something deeper, more serene, fundamentally permanent that governed these forces and gave life, cheerfulness and vivaciousness to the material activities of the people. That underlying force of values, principles and standards forged their social ideology that determined the nature of their basic way.
Human society, through its long experiences, developed an understanding that in the motely of these ever-changing events, there is something permanent without which the changes would be unmeaningful. There is grief, suffering and woe which none cherishes; then why bring grief, suffering and woe to a fellow human being, nay, to any being on earth enjoying life. The discovery of the identity of something permanent in the plurality of living beings became the foundation stone of the human society. The permanent substance came to be called Atma or Soul. The discovery of soul was the result of the dialectical historical efforts of the mankind. Human efforts conditioned the nature of society. The efforts of individual members of the society reduced the woe and suffering of his fellow
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