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અધ્યાત્મતવાલાક.
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they are eliminated, the growth of spirituality is promoted and that of animality is checked. Thus the elimination of the Karmic forces of desires helps in bringing on freedom from pain and happiness which every living being tries to secure.
It is even absurd to kill living animals in extreme pain and distress and also to destroy creatures with naturally cruel and evil propensities. It is a wrong belief that they become happy, being freed from painful distress. By destroying cruel animals the evil is not mitigated and none can guarantee that similar beings would not take birth in the same place. On the contrary when one entertains and practises universal love ( Ahimsa ) natural antipathy is even held in abeyance..
Let us now consider the principle of Ahimsā according to the Jain theory. It is the highest form of religion or piety. It is highly desirable and necessary, if one desires release from this Cycle of Transmigration. It is grossly misunderstood. The pernicious results of flesh-eating are already pointed out. This principle also extends to drinks. Stimulating drinks are as much injurious to health. They also retard the progress of spiritual development. Brewing and distilling also involve the destruction of millions of small lives. The Jains also refrain from carrying on such avocations which are more or less connected with the destruction of animal life, such as cutting down forests, working as a black-smith, potter, those of a dealer in leathern articles, feathers, skins
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