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(Vitaragi). Religion so defined alone carries one to the fifth plane of existence (Pancham-gati) and gives
salvation".
Vegetarianism is not just an eating habit but basic to non-violent culture and at the same time conducive to nobler thoughts and elimination of the aggressive urge.
An American lady Clare Rosenfield who practices non-violence as per Jainism not only with conviction, but inner delight observes:
"I only know that for me and our children, the vegetarian way of life is not only a way of removing ourselves from supporting the machines of violence and mentality of callousness towards helpless creatures, but it has given us a new and fresh outlook of life - a feeling of kinship with the beings with whom we share this planet.”
As Edgar Guest wrote:
"Who for God's creatures small will plan,
Will seldom wrong his fellow men".
Experience and experimentation in USA, Canada and Europe has shown that the local people can take easily to practicing vegetarianism in slow degrees without in any way feeling alienated from their local social moorings. If anything, this discipline has enhanced their confidence and will power and substantially taken care of their tensions, strains and other complexes.
Anekant is an important concept mirroring the worldview of Jain philosophy. Nothing in this world is or can be absolute. Everything is relative. The theory of Anekant expounds the multiended pattern of human social relationships and emphasis the dynamic and moving elements in them rather than a fixed static or single-track orientation. This helps a more objective attitude towards others - one of universal tolerance in place of exclusive attachment or hatred towards a chosen few. A son may be a son to a person but he may also simultaneously be a husband, friend, enemy or brother of another person.
Ahimsa: The Ultimate Winner
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