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ibility is for the purpose of facilitating progress and not regress. He should ensure that the adjustment he makes does not lead to regression.
With regard to the ahimsa way of life, the first step is defining ahimsa in the context of mundane activities. Let us, for example, divide basic ahimsa into four levels in the context of destruction of life forms:
a. One should not kill, cause harm or pain or discomfort to another human being like oneself.
b. One should not kill, cause harm or pain or discomfort to animals in the visible world.
c. One should not kill, cause harm or pain or discomfort to beings in the micro-world.
d. One should refrain from destroying things and processes conducive to life and spreading things and processes that destroy life.
These are gross definitions and will have to be expanded and elaborated as follows:
a. One should be truthful, avoid stealing (of all types), remain free from vices, control one's temper, be responsible towards family and society, and follow non-possession (i.e., discipline desires and limit needs), and not exploit labour or employees.
b. One should avoid eating meat, limit the use of leather goods, avoid cruelty towards animals, and refrain from trades that employ violence or harming of beings.
c. One should gather knowledge about microorganisms, specially with reference to the activities whereby these are
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AHIMSA: THE SCIENCE OF PEACE Jain Education International
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