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Appendices
69
Lord Mahāvīra stressed that “with vigilance one should walk, stand, sit, sleep, eat and talk so that sinful karmic bondage shall not accrue to the soul'.
Jainism takes an integral view of life. Right knowledge and right conduct are inter-related and man cannot achieve emancipation without any of these three.
The concept of non-violence is supreme dharma for every human being - Ahimsā paramo dharmaḥ, in simple terms, nonviolence connotes non-injury to any being in any form or manner. The concept, in its positive aspect, has sublime and profound implications stressing the virtuous practice of love and compassion for all everywhere, all the time. Ahimsā is the sacred law of compassion in body, mind and spirit.
The foundation of Jainism rests basically on non-violence from which only all other vows of abstentions (from falsehood, theft, sensual pleasures, possessiveness etc.) follow.
The rationale behind the concept of non-violence is equality of all beings. Lord Mahāvīra said: 'Not to kill any living being is the quintessence of all wisdom. One has to understand that nonviolence and equality of all living beings are the essentials of Dharma' - Sūtrakytānga-sūtra, 1.11.10.
He adds (Ācārānga-sutra, 1.5.5.5): “O Man! Think that the person you want to kill, hurt, punish and harm is just like you. All living beings desire to live a long and happy life. Therefore, live and let live!”
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