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8.
Ahimsa and Social Justice
Our Arhat sangh was rapidly growing in numbers, thanks to
Mahavir's wonderful samosarans and his ability to explain Sraman principles. People were thrilled by Mahavir's revolutionary messages of equality, love, compassion, and reverence for every living being, and by his concern for the wide-spread social injustice in the society. Though, Mahavir was once a prince, and lived mostly in the forest for his sadhana for 12 years, he was completely aware of the problems facing the poor and disposed in society.
Jain Education International
I was still new in the 'Arhat sangh', but being a Ganadhar, new monks would ask me several questions about our philosophy, our sangh, and even about Bhagwan Mahavir. I knew that Mahavir achieved Let self-liberation be kevalgyan (absolute knowledge) and total bliss the focus of our through his focused sadhana. I was also sadhana, but the goal of our sadhana should aware of his love and compassion for all be to alleviate pain living beings, but, when they asked why he and suffering of all chose to re-enter the society and tackle its living beings. problems when he could have simply rested in his state of bliss, I had no answers. I too wanted to know why Mahavir continues to work so hard, walking barefoot through heat and forests, fasting for days, and visiting town after town serving the sick and the poor.
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