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9.
The Doctrine of Ahimsa*
It is remarkable that the Jain tenets although very ancient and rational are also most modern and uptodate. The doctrine of Ahimsa and its rational, scientific and practical exposition in Jainism is unique and unparalleled in the history of human thought. This doctrine has attracted the attention of the entire globe due to its successful application in liberating India from the foreign domination by the struggle for emancipation based upon the principle of Ahimsa-non-violence. Mahatma Gandhi while presiding over a Jain function celebrating the birthday of Lord Mahavira at Ahmedabad in 1920 had paid glowing tributes to this Jain doctrine and had added that because of this ennobling and golden gospel of compassion Jainism can become the religion of the whole world.
These remarks of Gandhiji are very illuminating, "If anybody has developed the doctrine of nonviolence it was Lord Mahavira but the modern society does not follow the Lord properly. I request you to understand the Teachings of Lord Mahavira, think over them and translate them into action." It is a matter of profound gratification that almost all religions of the world accept the superiority and
*Revised reprint of the paper distributed amongst the delegates to the Fifth World Congress of Theosophists, held at Salzburg, Austria, 1967.
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