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THE ART OF LIVING CALLED JAINISM
O
S.P. Jain
Although like every religion, Jainism too talks about the other world, the heaven and hell, transmigration of soul resulting in innumerable cycles of birth and death into different species, and ultimately the attainment of emanicipation, the stage from whose bourne no traveller ever returns, yet its study would show that it is indeed concerned with the world in which we live and lays stress on what may well be called the art of living.
Non-Violence as the cardinal principle: Jainism proclaims 'Ahimsa Parmodharma i.e. Non violence is the greatest religion. When we talk of non-violence, naturally it pre-supposes the existence of a society where non violence is to be practised. It cannot obviously be meant for a solitary life like that of Robinson Crusoe. So when it says that non violence is the greatest religion, clearly it takes into account the world where we live along with others and sets before us a norm of behaviour. Jainism proclaims that non-violence is the real thing and all other qualities of human behaviour like truth, non-possession, non- stealing, observance of celibacy etc. are meant for the up- holding of that one cardinal principle of Non-violence, just as there is a hedge for the protection of a central plant in a farm. Indeed this principle is not confined to a particular country or state. It
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Shri Vijyanand Suri Swargarohan Shatabdi Granth
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