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Bhagwan Mahavir 1
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means of his silence. His teaching is free from all love and hatred. It pleases all princes and peasants equally and is imparted to all without any distinction. The peculiarity of his teaching is that the lowest man, if he acts according to it comes to be regarded as the highest man and if he does not like to act according to it, is regarded to be the lowest man."
Goshala was confused for some time, but he began again; "If you find the same religion in the silence and nonsilence of Lord Mahavria, then I say that Sachitta containing life water, seeds, vegetable accepting faulty and specially prepared food and copulation are also religion and one who uses them should be regarded as a hermit.” The Prince replied, "Goshalaji, You are wrong there. Such a man is a Grihastha he cannot be a hermit. For a hermit is one who uses Achitta (containing no life) objects and Anaimittika food ( food which is not specially prepared for him. ) If a man who uses Sachitta objects be called a hermit, there shall be no difference between a Grihastha and a hermit. It is contrary to religion and to the sense of honesty to use the Sachitta objects and to enjoy women while one calls himself a hermit and puts on the disguise of a hermit. it is as good as killing religion and justice. Such a man shall have to bear strokes of rocking waves of the bottomless ocean of this worldly life for thousands of births." Goshala was very much ashamed to hear these words of the prince. When he found himself helpless, he charged the prince with criticising other religions. He said, “ 'Mind your words, Oh prince, you are criticising other religions, which say that world can be ended and salvation attained even by using Sachitta objects." But
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