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JAINISM AND DEMOCRACY
torment, nor persecute, any kind of human being, any kind of creature, any kind of thing having a soul, any kind of beings. That is the pure, eternal, enduring commmandment of religion, which has been proclaimed by the sages who comprehend the world." (1-4-11).
Again he exhorts, "You yourself are the being which you intend to kill, you yourself are the being which you intend to ill-use, you yourself are the being which you intend to insult, you yourself are the being which you intend to torment, you yourself are the being which you intend to persecute. Therefore, the righteous one, who has awakened to this knowledge, and lives according to it, will neither kill nor cause to kill. (V. 5, 4).
"All beings long for life, like comfort, dislike pain, fear death, desire life, are anxious to be alike, life is dear to all." This note of respect for life rings throughout the first section of Ayaranga.
Similarly, Mahāvīra wanted to impress upon man that he himself and none else is his redeemer. "O man! thou art thy friend, why seekest thou for a friend outside?" "Control your own-self thus, you will get rid of all miseries."
He wanted that a man should realize the infinite power possessed by him. Instead of entreating gods for their pleasure and trembling from their wrath he should recognize his inner strength and stand on his own feet. Thus Mahavira taught humanity to worship man in place of deities. He brought deities to touch the feet of the virtuous.
Mahāvira was dead against the obnoxious system of He preached, "Frequently, I have been born in
caste.
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