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Jainism in a Global Perspective
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The one, whom you want to torture is you only.
Maintaining such equipoise towards all creature and practising nonviolence is the essence of life.
B. Love and Friendship
Do not fight or quarrel with the persons who are close to you. Have a feeling of friendship with everyone. And try to cultivate love for the people of the world at large.
mittim bhūchim kappaye. - Uttarādhyayana Sūtra, 6/2. mitti me savvabhūyesu, veraṁ majjham ņa kenai
- Avaśyaka Sūtra-4.5. Keep friendship with every human being. All the creatures are my friends, I have no enemity with anyone. Such love can win even the deadly enemy.
C. Service - Attendance veyāvaccenas titthayara nāmagottam kammaṁ nibaṁdhai--
Uttaradhyayana Sūtra- 29/43.
Bhagavāna Mahāvira has narrated the spirit of service as the source of sweet social relations and joy. When there is no co-operation between two persons, how can there be any social relation? Bhagavāna Mahavira has told the most important thing about 'Service' that - 'Being of service to any old, diseased or helpless person is more valuable and important than worshipping me'. With this spirit of service the individual can raise the self to divine level of "Tīrthankara'.
There is no Dharmalike kindness, no charity better than feeding the hungry, no fame better than to be known truthful, and no ornament better than good character.
Be ever ready to help those who are helpless, and needy who cry for protection or support. One should promptly, willingly and carefully nurse and treat those who are illing, so that they may be cured and recover health.
It is the selfless service of others that enables the soul to attain perfection and become a Tīrtharikara.
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