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JAINA ETHICS
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mädhyastha (tolerance) towards living beings as stated by Umāsvāmi.18 Compassion towards all beings is as invaluble and miraculous in its effects, as a Cintāmaņi gem, says Somadeva. 14
Satya (Truthfulness)
It is difficult to define truth, though its nature is understandable. Umāsvāmi says that speaking what is not commendable is falsehood. 15 Commenting on this Sūtra, Pūjyapāda says that which causes pain and suffering to a living being is not commendable, whether it refers to actual facts or not. The words that lead to injury constitute falsehood. Samantabhadra says that he who does not speak gross (sthūla) falsehood, does not cause others to speak and docs not speak even the truth if it is likely to bring danger (vipadā) to himself or to anybody else, can be said to desist from gross falsehood.16 Amst candra has given negative views of truth. According to him, it is falsehood to make a wrong statement through careless activity of body, mind or speech (pramāda-yoga). Falsehood is of four kinds : i) denying the existence of a thing with reference to its position, time and nature when it actually exists; ii) assertion of the existence of a thing with reference to its position, time and nature when it does not exist; iii) where a thing is represented to be something different from what it is actually, as when a horse is said to be a cow; iv) when a speech is ordinarily condemnable (garhita), sinful (sävadya) and disagreeable (apriya).
Any speech which is actuated by passion (pramatta-yoga) is false. Back biting, harsh, unbecoming, non-sensical or unethical speech is condemnable (garhita). That speech which provokes another to engage in piercing, cutting, beating etc., or likely to lead to destruction of life is sinful (sāvadya). All disagreeable speech (apriya) causes uneasiness, pain, hostility, grief, anguish etc., to another person. Falsehood involves himsā or injury of some kind or other. The material point is the intention behind the speech. Where a saint or a preceptor gives sound advice against vices or
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