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The Jaina world of Non-living
(b) The utility of the word 'assistance or help' (upagraha) used again in the aphorism has been stated to serve reference to only pleasure, pain etc. as in aphorism 5.20. (c) The common examples of mutual help and assistance have been given indicating the interdependence of each unit with other units in the world of the living. It has been mentioned that the assistance is not always mutual, it may cause pleasure, pain etc.for one, two or many living beings. 2. The absolute basic differentia of the living is the consciousness - knowledge and conation. However, this aphorism indicates the external or empirical differentia of the living being through which the world of living sustains itself. 3. The aphorism, thus, will mean mutual assistance of the living beings either through instructions about the desirable and undesirables for the spiritual and material world or through material help of each other. 4. We observe that we depend on peasants for our foods, weavers or mills for our clothes, potters and others for our residences and so on. In return, they depend on us for their wages and livelihood. This mutual dependence results in our pleasures, pains, longevity and death under appropriate circumstances. 5. The commentary indicates two main types of observable mutually assisting relations mostly prevalent in those days- (i) master and servant, (ii) teacher and taught (Saints and votaries). The twentieth century has added one more such relation - (iii) politicians (government) and public. All other retations may be included in these categories. 6. This aphorism has been the mile-stone for Jaina ethics and morality. It represents the basic principles of universal brotherhood, spiritualist ecology and environmental preservation. It preaches cooperation and harmony among all the living beings for peaceful and progressive life. 7. The word 'living' (Jiva) here refers to all the varieties of the living world beginning from observable ones-sensed to five
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