________________
THE SELF-RESPECT MOVEMENT 115 animals for the sake of scientific research and offering animals and birds as sacrifices to deities.
A follower of Ahimsa should also practice restraint in speech and mind, walking carefully, lifting and laying down things carefully, and examining carefully one's food and drink before taking them.
Ahimsa is said to be the highest Dharma because all the other four virtues, viz, speaking the truth, non-stealing, chastity and contentment are included in it. By speaking falsehood, by stealing a thing, by committing unchastity and by having too much attachment for worldly things one does injury to his own self in the first place and to those who are concerned.
Swami Samantabhadra Acharya says " Ahimsa Bhutanam Jagti Vidhitam Brahma Para mam". One who practises Ahimsa rises to the status of Paramatma. He is worshipped by all. All the living beings gather around him forgetting their enmities and listen to his teachings. Miracles will be experienced wherever he may go. Even gods like Indra come down to the earth to do service to him. Such is the glory of Abimsa.
SWARAJYA. 30-5-29
Jainism and the Self-Respect Movement.
(By "Self-Respector"). [VER since I became a follower of the Self-respect moveu ment, I was thinking if there existed any movement in ancient India which advocated the principles for which the movement stards at present. I am a student of philosophy and religion and I take pleasure in studying books on comparative religion. For nearly a year I have been studying some books on Jainism. While I was going through those books I was extremely glad and very much surprised to find the Jaina teachings to be the same as those of the Self-respect movement. For the information of the readers I give below some of the grand
and sublime teachings of Jainism. Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
