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Acaranga Sutra says: "To do harm to others is to do harm to oneself. We kill ourselves as soon as we intend to kill other”.
Niragranth Pravachan containing the gist of answers given by Bhagavan Mahavir to his principal pupil Indrabhuti says in gatha 18:
डेहरे य पाणे बुड्ढे या पाणे ते आत्तओ पस्सइ सव्व लोए उव्वेहती लोगमिण महंत बुद्धे अप्पमत्तेसु परिव्वएज्जा
“One who regards this life as transient and considers all small and big living beings as like him is the real learned
with due restraint".
Both in its principles as well as in day-today practice, Jain religion advocates non-attachment and non-possessiveness to material things of life through self-restraint and abstinence from over-indulgence, voluntary curtailment of necessities and elimination of aggressive urge. The rituals and practices prescribed for the monks (Mahavrata) are more rigorous than those (Anuvrat) prescribed for the ordinary followers.
In the words of Arnold Toynbee, “that a certain number of finest minds should remain unattached and unbound by social ties is bound to set an example of purest natural life unfettered by worldly desires”. All such virtues are embodied in Jain Monks in terms of their strict code of conduct, austere life and gaining of deep insight and knowledge into the mystery of existence.
However, more than abstinence and renunciation, Jain philosophy puts emphasis on fully understanding and practicing in one's own station of life the principles of non-violence whether one is a monk or one is a normal householder.
Acarunga scripture observes very pointedly and clearly:
Ahimsa: The Ultimate Winner
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