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message to us to lead our life. Mahavira was looking for the absolute Truth / self realization as primary or the ultimate goal of his life and social uplift as secondary. He was perfection and knowledge combined and achieved Liberation (Moksha). Rajchandra venerated Mahavira and tried to practice the doctrine of Mahavira while staying as an ideal householder moving towards ascetic life for achieving perfection.
Rajchandra”, though a householder and contemporary of Gandhi in all respects, led life like Mahavira. Gandhi found him always simple in life style, with a disposition of detachment (Vairagya) even when he was eating, practicing Ahimsa in all walks of life, constantly in search for Truth, attending to his business, resting, and absorbed in his duties and contemplations simultaneously. The poems written by him were always on his lips even when he was attending to his business (like, when will an opportunity come when I also become a Nirgrantha or totally detached).
His business dealings showed utmost vigilance and were successful. Gandhi was a frequent visitor to Rajchandra for short period when he was in India and observed his way of life very closely. Prominent influences of Rajchandra on Gandhi's way of life, can be summed up as practicing celibacy, diet and dietetic experiments, fasting, simplicity, religious equanimity, Aparigraha, compassion, Dharma, spiritual yearnings and service to humanity. "Hardly there is any area of Gandhi's life and pursuits which were not directly or indirectly impacted by Rajchandra and such influences have been deep, profound and encompassing.":68
Jain identity can be summed up as “A Jain performs his worldly activities keeping his ultimate goal of attainment of the transcendental life / bliss / liberation / Moksha.69 Thus Jains are required to minimize violence (himsa) and maximize Ahimsa in
Gandhi & Jainism
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