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THE A. B. C. OF JAINISM
137 be occupying in society. A king even with the observance of Jaina religion can very well look after the good and well-being of his country.
According to kingly duty he may have to fight with his enemies for the defence of his people, and thus enter into inevitable bloodshed, but still he is not far from Jainism. Even history gives proofs of very many Jaina kings who fought with their enemies and thus saved their country.
Similarly a householder, when he himself, his family or his country are in danger of any outside force, gets ready to destroy that force, and still does nothing wrong according to Jainascriptures.
In short, Jainism never prevents a layman from facing him that comes to harm him. For him, according to the sastras, the vow of ahimsa goes so far as not to be intentionally and aggressively injurious towards such animal beings as are innocent. While discussing the great principle of non-injury as understood by Jainism it must be borne in mind that it is merely limited to the innocent, and not for those who are out to do mischief. :
Let alone the Jainas, no sensible human being will ever look with peace and calm at the terrible slaughters very often coming in human history merely for the satisfaction of the filthy passions of self-aggrandisement and conquest. Such vain and terrible human carnage will be condemned with all force not only by Jaina-religion, but also by all religions existing on this earth.
It is quite evident that one who is a stranger to the general principles of psychology can not comprehend the deep basis of religion. The life of such an individual becomes all shallow, and by and by gets degraded. The essence of humanity is sympathy and fellow-feeling, and hence the well-being of the world can only be achieved by liberal and sympathetic souls. In an age in which only the selfish have their full sway, people at large have to undergo severe torments, and this is known to every student of history. Rest assured that the ideal of Ahimsa or non-injury as
18 Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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| SR No. | 034889 |
| Book Title | Jaina Gazette 1927 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | J L Jaini, Ajitprasad |
| Publisher | Jaina Gazettee Office |
| Publication Year | 1927 |
| Total Pages | 568 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 47 MB |