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The Relevance of Teachings of Lord Mahavira
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violence in action, in thought and in speech. Nonviolence as taught by Mahavira was not only against killing somebody but 'was against mutual jealousies, hatred, conflicts and pride, resulting from wealth and the feeling of high and low”. Dr. A. N. Upadhye notes Dr. Saletore who rightly observed : "The principle of Ahimsa was partly responsible for the greatest contribution of the Jaiñas to Hindu culture- that relating to Toleration"10
"Of all the Indian Darshanas, Jainism is the only one which has the principle of Ahimsa as its central doctrine. The other Darshanas also speak of Ahimsa whenever convenient but they never offer such loyalty to the principle of Ahimsa as is found in Jainism."11
Mahavira explained Truth in a different way. To him truth does not mean abstaining from falsehood only, but also to see the world in its natural and real form. Truth harmful to others is not permitted. Truth is always to be upholded through noble speech and peaceful mind and one should practice it. To be exaggerative or harsh or fault finding in speech, is untruth. Mahavira says 'absence of artificiality is the observance of truth. Such truthfulness lies in the heart of non-violence, as untruthful speech is always hurting others.
The literal meaning of the world asteya(non-stealing), the third vow, is abstention from taking a thing of some one else which is not given. Lord Mahavira elaborated it to all sorts of dishonesty and conceit to be avoided. The significance of this vow lies in attaining social equality. Jainism regards stealing as a severe kind of violence
The principle of apirigraha (non-possession) is highly ethical. Craving, as the Jain Texts say, never ends, and brings greed and lust and attachment. Mahavira insisted people to accept the vow of aparigraha as the solution to harmony and peaceful co-existence. Aparigraha also refers to simplicity of life and is an important
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