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Il
TIRTHANKARA MAHAVIRA
The conflict between himsa and ahimsa dates from the beginning of man's history, but it was, perhaps, never before so poignant as at present. There is also no doubt that it was the first awakening of the ahimsite attitude in the soul of the uncivilized, barbarous, primitive man which marked his transformation from a veritable brute into a humane being. The moment he began to realise the truth and justice of the precepts 'live and let live' and 'do unto others as you would have others do unto you' augered the dawn of human reason, culture and civilization. The endeavour to translate these wholesome precepts into practice gradually humanised the brute in man.
The brute could, however, not be completely annihilated; it still lurked and lived. The attraction of gross materialism, the
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