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inequality and vast differences in the mode of consumptions should atleast be minimised. Among the causes of wars and conflicts, which distrub our social peace will for possession is prime, because it causes economic im-balance. Due to economic im-balance or inequality classes of poor and rich come into existence and which results in class conflicts. According to Jainas it is only through the self imposed limitation of possession and simple living, we can restore peace and prosperity on the earth. Non-Violence as means to establish Peace
anquility is a personal or inner experience of peace. When it is applied in the social life or is practiced outworldly, it becomes non-violence. Non-violence is a social or outer expression of this inner peace. In Acaranga, Lord Mahavira remarks: -
"The worthy men of the past, present and the future all say thus, speak thus, declare thus, explain thus; all breathing, existing, living and sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented. This is the pure, eternal and unchangeable law or the tenet of religion."16
In other words, non-violence is the eternal and pure form of religion. In Jainism non-violence is the pivot around which its whole ethics revolves. For Jainas violence represents all the vices and non-violence represents all the virtues. Non-violence is not a single virtue but it is a group of virtues. In Prasnavyakarana-sutra the term non-violence is equated with sixty virtuous qualities, just as peace, harmony, welfare, trust, fearlessness, etc. Thus non-violence is a wider term, which comprehends all the good qualities and virtues.
Non-violence is nothing but to treat all living beings as equal. The concept of equality is the core of the theory of Non- violence. The observance of non-violence is to honour each and every form of life. Jainism does not discriminate the human beings on the basis of their caste, creed and colour. According to Jaina point of view, all the barriers of caste, creed and colour are artificial. All the human beings have equal right to lead a peaceful life. Though violence is unavoidable, yet it can not be the directive principle of our living, because it goes against the judgements of our faculty of reasoning and the concept of natural law. If I think that nobody has any right to take my life then on the same ground of reasoning I have also no right to take another's life. The principle, 'live on
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Shri Vijyanand Suri Swargarohan Shatabdi Granth
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