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The Three Hallmarks 67
sinful thoughts, words or deeds it praises pious thoughts, words or deeds, for the obvious reasons that it is death that is completely stand-still life must mean some activity.
28. The positive aspect of non-violence implies forgiveness, kindness, pity, charity, service etc. This requires providing food to the hungry, clothing to the naked, and shelter to the roofless-in short providing service to the needy. It also implies saving animals from torture or death.
29. Jainism provides complete guidance for observation of non-violence in day to day life. The practising of the major and minor vows mentioned in previous chapter like truthfulness, non-theft ,continence, non-accumulation etc.-make it easy to observe non-violence. Again there are five observations which strengthens the conduct of non-violence viz., (i) control of speech, (ii) control of thoughts, (iii) regulation of movement, (iv) care in talking and planning things and (v) examining food and drink.
30. The non-violence person should be full of benevolence towards all living beings, show joy at the sight of the virtuous, be comforting to the afflicted and show tolerance towards the ill-behaved. For sustainance it is necessary to avoid food and clothing and other requirements which involve the slaughter of living being like animals, fish, birds etc. All kinds of intoxicating intake are to be avoided. Similarly, for earning a living it is necessary to avoid trades like brewing, fishing or butchering.
31. Above all the origin of non-violence is in the attitude of the mind, as explained earlier. The mind should be constantly vigilant, careful and considerate. This would help in eschewing the four passions - anger, greed, deceit and pride. All acts performed by such a man will be free from violence. This has been authoritatively stated in the Dashvakalik Sutra (with which we started this chapter). Realizing that no space is free from life and any movement in the form of thought, speech or physical action involves some injury to some form of life and living means some movement) the question was asked :
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| SR No. | 001640 |
| Book Title | First Steps to Jainism Part 1 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Sancheti Asso Lal, Manakmal Bhandari |
| Publisher | Sancheti Trust Jodhpur |
| Publication Year | 2002 |
| Total Pages | 300 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English, Religion, & Education |
| File Size | 10 MB |