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equal measure - as much to plants and animals as it does to human community.
We can preserve this marvelous heritage only through global commitment to the culture of non-violence. We cannot let it be frittered away through current process of ever-increasing violence and bloodshed, reckless exploitation and wanton destruction.
Time has come to bid farewell to the culture of violence, which threatens to terrorize us all out of our very existence.
Time has come to transform our lives, our thoughts, actions and expressions with the compassionate culture of non-violence. It would be a folly to regard practice of non-violence as a religious dogma or a ritual or an austere doctrine only for the religious devotees. Non-violence must become a driving force in our life spiritually, morally and ethically. It must become a quality of life.
Jain Concept of Non-Violence
The concept of non-violence is not a new discovery. Mahatma Gandhi, the most vocal and effective champion of Non-violence wrote:
"No religion of the world has explained the principle of non-violence as deeply and systematically in its
applicability to life as Jainism.
A spiritual dimension was given to non-violence in Jain scripture of 4th century B.C. “Acaranga" Violence towards other is spiritually regarded as violence towards one self in the Jain faith.
"He who ignores or negates other beings Ignores or negates one's own self He who you wish to inflict suffering Is eventually yourself. You cannot
Kill or harm others without hurting your own self" Acharya Hem Chandra observed in "Yogashastra”
Ahimsa: The Ultimate Winner
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