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Mahavira & Code of Conduct / 153
1.
Non-Violence
Not to kill any living being is the quintessence of all wisdom. Non-violence and equality of all living beings are essentials of dharma. Oh, man! Think that the being whom you want to kill is none else but you, he too experiences happiness and sorrow just like you. The being whom you wish to govern and enslave is none else but you. The being whom you wish to hurt and harm is none else but you. The being whom you want to punish and drive away is also none else but you. One has to bear the consequences of one's actions, Hence never desire to harm any living being. Life is dear to all beings. One should not inflict pain on any creature nor have any feeling of antipathy or enmity. One should be friendly towards all creatures. No dharma is equal to ahimsa in this world.