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JAINISM
RULES OF CONDUCT
53
This is the third subject upon which very definite convictions are held when we attain the right attitude the signs of which are now being added to. A body of rules of conduct does two things: it keeps a man from falling, and it helps him to advance.
These rules are rules relating to social life; because all living beings are social. It is by means of our relations with other living beings that our development progresses, and not in solitude. The ultimate outcome of these rules is the doing of good towards other living beings.
When a person has reached the right attitude he is convinced that any body of rules of conduct must be based on sympathy, love, pity, compassion, etc. (daya); he is convinced that any body of rules of conduct which is based on injury or killing of living beings cannot be the truth. And this conviction is very strong. He cannot, therefore, follow any religion which requires the sacrificing of animals; there must be a feeling for others.
LOVE (DAYA)
With regard to this subject of love, sympathy, compassion, fellow-feeling, pity, upon which rules of conduct must be based, the following are some of the ways in which it can be shown.
One way would be that the person would follow the good customs of his family, protecting life. But in this particular form now meant, the internal attitude of mind is not active, and he would not know why it was done. For Private & Personal Use Only
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