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like a mother to the whole world. Rup wanted this seed to blossom and flourish in him also. He wanted to feel the touch of life, so that he too would drop his outwardly protective layers, like those on a growing plant, and become as compassionate as those exemplary beings he held before him as models: his father, his master, Lord Mahavir, and Arihantas of all times and places.
To move in this direction, during this preparatory period, he chose one stanza from the Yogashastra of Acharya Hemchandra on which to meditate and ruminate daily.
आत्मवत् सर्वभूतेषु सुखदुःखे प्रियाप्रिये । चिंतयन्नात्मनोऽनिष्टां हिंसामन्यस्य नाचरेत् ।।
Atmavat Sawa Bhuteshu Sukh Dukkhe Priyapriye Chintayannātmano anishtām Himsamanyasya Nācharet
"All living beings have souls like you. As you like to be happy and do not like to be unhappy, so all beings like to be happy and do not like to be unhappy or in pain.
"If you remain in this awareness, dwelling in your soul, you will not be able to harm, hurt, kill, or cause pain to any living being, including yourself. So you will do to others only that which you would like others to do to you."
Rup was not daunted by the rigors of the monks' itinerant life. It exhilarated and inspired him. As he became more aware of the seed of ahimsa within, he became convinced that by following this life style, he would eventually lift the lid of his unawareness and sorrow and reach that understanding and freedom for which he longed.
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