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of hard, cruel, frivolous, malicious, garrulous, villifying talk-for-these, too, may hurt our fellow-beings not a little , as a matter of fact, much more than mere physical violence
“Asteyam”-or Non-stealing means respect for the properties of others; and it is a corollary of the first and fundamental maxim of "Abimsa" For if you respect life, you have to respect property also on which earthly life invariably depends.
"Brahmacaryam" or Self-control is an essential pre-requisite of any kind of higher, spiritual life For, as well-known, we have dual personalities, so to speak-with a higher spiritual side and a lower physical life, and here, the higher must control the lower, the spiritual the physical Otherwise, no stepping into the Path to Progress, Path to Fulfilment, Path to Salvation will be possible at all Hence, we have to refrain from all sorts of Selfindulgence, external or internal, subtle or gross, mundane or extra-mundane, director indirect.
Lastly, , 'Apaiigi aha" or Non-attachment This is a wider form of the above, and is as such, also an essential condition of any kind of spiritual striving worth the name
The above may seem to be well-known, common forms of moral discipline, yet, as we all know, these are very difficult ones, and if practised properly, may easily bring about Salvation for all. After all, for ordinary persons, like us, such so-called small things count much-for, what more is there in common lives like ours? As we are ordinary persons, our salvation, too, should be attainable through ordinary means, and it goes to the great credit of the great Teacher Mahavira and others that they, in their infinite glory and grandeur, did not-never for a single moment-ignore or look down upon us common people ; on the contrary, came to our levels lovingly and kindly, stretching out their gracious hands for our help, for lifting us up But they did not, in their infinite wisdom, impose impossible conditions on us, or, compel us to follow Paths, altogether beyond our comprehension and ability Rather, they set up before us something suited to us, and most encouragingly assured us that this path of ordinary ethical disciplines, too, can take us to the coveted goal of Salvation. To, Jainism is a Universal Philosophy-not a Philosophy of mere high speculations, profound thinking, hair-splitting argumentations, but a Philosophy of correct behaviour, pure action, proper endeavours. This is within the reach of allhigh knowledge is not, but right action is It is also a Universal Religion-not a Religion of God, not a Religion of Ritualism, not a Religion of mere empty forms and codes and conventions—but a living, loving Religion of Humanism, involving Love of Man, Service of Man, Sacrifice for Man
Our gratefulness to Lord Madavira knows no bounds for this, simply for this His was a System for the masses, for the man in the street, for the common people, for ordinary individuals, and so it is a very modern system, aiming at awakening for masses, equal rights and privileges for all, and finally, at "One World"-where there will no distinctions whatsoever between man and man on grounds of castes and creeds and status and position at all, but all will be taken to be absolutely equal, with equal rights, equal oppornities, equal dignity, equal honour, equal status
Our salutation to Lord Mahavira, who so many years ago, envisaged and actualised such a lofty World-Ideal with so such ease and perfection, heralding a new golden dawn of Visva-Prıtı-Visva-Maitri, Visva-Santi-Visva-Seva-Visva-Tyaga Universal-Love- Universal-Fraternity - Universal-Peace - Universal-Service- Universal-Sacrifice May we all follow his noble foot-steps, and fructify his eternal message for the benefit and uplift of all,
years at ing a Javversal
