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worldly activities never forgets his ultimate goal i.e. attainment of the transcendental life or eternal bliss / liberation / Moksha."50
Jains for thousands of years have been practicing strenuous efforts (conscious self suffering) for improvement of their worldly and trans-worldly life, vegetarianism, meditation and contemplations, conservation and sharing their bounties with others to contribute for the betterment of the society they live in. In spite of these, most of their lifestyle activities are predominantly similar to the Indian social customs-culture prevalent in the region / state of India they live in. It is not necessary to be born in as a Jain to practice Jain way of life as the same is evident from the life of eleven principal disciples of Mahavira who were all Brahmins to Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and even today to Srimad Rajchandra (spiritual guru of Gandhi) and Acharya Sushil Muni who were not Jains by birth.
The three cardinal principles of Jain way of life are: Ahimsa in conduct, Anekant in thought and Aparigraha as way of life. We now briefly discuss each one of these.
1. Ahimsa (Nonviolence)
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Ahimsa is the basis of code of conduct for worldly and transworldly happiness. Basis of Ahimsa is equanimity towards all living beings. Mahavira says "Ahimsa the almighty is the shelter and protector for all worldly beings, like the sky is for the birds to fly, water is for thirsty, food for the hungry."52 Jainism equates violence (Himsa) to sin (Papa), a fact that gives special status to Ahimsa in Jainism.33 In an unprecedented way Mahavira defined Ahimsa as:
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....none of the living beings ought to be killed or deprived of life, ought to be ordered or ruled, ought to be enslaved or possessed, ought to be distressed or afflicted and ought to be put to unrest or disquiet. He then conclusively pronounces that after understanding the importance of kindness to beings, the enlightened person should preach, disseminate and applaud it at all places in EastWest and North-South directions."
This strong proclamation by Mahavira is the foundation of the
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