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Jainism in a Global Perspective.
and it can have a fresh air full of strength and friendship. Such is the power of the principle of omni-perception. Aparigraha - Non-Possession
The third proclamation of the non-violent life of Lord Mahāvira is aparigraha or non-possession. The root cause of the pains and poverties of human beings is social inequality. To remove this inequality, Lord Mahāvīra has preached the rich and the wealthy people of the society "Control your desires. Put a limit to indulgence. Free the abundant wealth and mony that you control. Disperse your wealth and have proper sense of proportion." Because if you don't then,
vitteņa tāņam na labhe pamatte-Uttaradhyayana 4/5.
Your wealth won't be able to protect you. In this sense, the principle of non-possession is the sure remedy for removing misery, poverty and social unequality.
Lord Mahāvira has stated two forms of non-possession : viz., proportion of wealth and control over seeking sensual pleasures.
When a limit is put on the desire for sensual pleasure, automatically there is a control over the desire to accumulate the endless resources of the world. Lord Mahāvira has clearly stated :
asaṁvibhāgī, asangaharus appamāṇabhoi..... se tärisaye, nārāhaye, vayamiņam. Praşnavyākarana 8/5.
"Any person who accumulates more than his requirements becomes partner in the offence of theft", means he commits theft to the society.
This philosophy of non-possession of Lord Mahāvīra has energised the process of purification of the society. Because of this, society started respecting renunciation rather than possession. People turned to wards self-realisation rather than infatuation. Charity and renunciation were practised and penance was praised. And this is the proof of the purity and greatness of the society.
Samatā - Equanimity :
One of the essence of Jainism is equanimity. The common and
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