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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
156
attachments, it resumes its true nature of peacefulness and felicity. We can experience spiritual peace and felicity by means of benevolence and pure conduct. Therefore, dharma in this context implies even those means of attaining peace such as pure conduct and benevolence. When we see a man, whom we consider as our enemy, we entertain such feelings as hatred, jealousy, anger and hostility. This is adharma (this is ignobility). Therefore Lord Mahāvir has said: मित्ती मे सव्वभूएसू ॥
Mitthi me Savvabhūyesu. I have amity with all living beings.
It means that we should implant this lofty ideal in our minds and hearts because the feeling of amity helps dharma to flourish. It is dharma or a sense of right ness that distinguishes human beings from brutes : आहार-निद्रा-भय-मैथुनञ्च
सामान्यमेतत्पशुभिर्नराणाम् ।। धर्मो हि तेषामधिको विशेषो
BUT gar: : 98171: 11 Ahāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithunancha
Sāmānyametatpshubhirnaranam Dharmo hi teshamadhiko vishesho
Dharmena hinah pashubhiḥ samānāḥ. Eating food, sleep, fear and copulation are common to human beings and animals. Dharma or a sense of righteousness is the one quality that distinguishes beings from animals. Therefore, human beings who are devoid of a sense of righteousness or dharma are equal to animals.
If Gandhiji was the gift of dharma to the whole country of Bharat, he by the power of dharma secured freedom for the country. Once someone said to him, "Mahatmaji! Though you have such a weak and slender body, you are very strong. In whatever direction you
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