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Soviet Union and Eastern Europe have come by and large through peaceful assertion of the will power of the people in favour of democracy. East and West Germany have achieved historic reunification without violence and bloodshed.
Aparigraha (non-possessiveness and non-attachment) is integral to non-violence as a discipline of voluntary simplicity and not forced austerity. Insatiable hankering after materialism and growing instinct of possessiveness tends to goad individuals towards unjust exploitation, unethical conduct and violent behaviour. Every individual cannot be Mahavir or Buddha ready to renounce all material possessions and to seek communion with nature and the inner-self. But self-restraint and non-possessive instincts should be developed in a steady but determined manner gradually by shedding such things and habits that tend to make a human being their slave.
It is true that monks practice far greater renunciation and restraint than the laypersons. However even for them, this is what Acharya Yogindu (6th Century A.D.) says in his book “Yoga-Saar” in stanza 18:
धम्मु ण पढिसइँ होइ, धम्मु ण पोत्थाऋपिच्छिसईं । Enn Ut Hfcu-ufa, gry of open-miferuş 1147 11
F
राय-रोस वे परिहरिवि, जो अप्पाणि वसेइ ।
a fa fHUT-37145, J dela usutš 11 48 11
“Religion is not practiced merely by studying scriptures or by merely keeping the book and the brush made of peacock-feathers or merely by living in some monastery. It is also not practiced merely by plucking hair by hand (Kesha-Loncha) Religion is practiced by renouncing all attachment (Raga) and aversion (Dwesh), and becoming fully dispassionate and unattached
Ahimsa: The Ultimate Winner
(198)
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