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are self-contented and free from doubts and fears. So far as the frustrations are concerned they are generated by our ambitions and resentments and can be controlled only by extinction of desires. Therefore, we must try first to retain inner peace or the peace of soul.
In Jaina texts, we find certain references about the importance and nature of peace. In Sūtra krtanga , it is said that "as the earth is the abode for all living beings so the peace is the abode for all the enlightened beings of past, present and future.” These souls having attained the spiritual heights always rest in peace and preach for peace. For Jainas peace means the tranquility or calmness of mind and so they equated the term peace (sānti) with the term equanimity or Samata. For them peace rests on mental equanimity and social equality. When mental equanimity is disturbed inner peace is disturbed and when social equality is disturbed external or social peace is disturbed.
Jainism as a religion is nothing but a practice for mental equanimity and social equality. For the same, they use particular Prakrta word ‘Samaya' (Samata), the principal concept of the Jainism. It is the pivot around which the whole Jainism revolves. In English, the term “Samaya' connotes various meanings such as equanimity, tranquility, equality, harmony and righteousness, in different contexts. Sometimes it means a balanced state of mind undisturbed by any kind of emotional excitement, pleasure or pain, achievement and disappointment, sometimes it refers to the personality, completely free from the vectors of aversion and attachment, i.e. a dispassionate personality. These are the intrinsic definitions of 'Samata or śānti'. But when this word is used extrinsically it means the feeling of equality with all the living beings and thus it conveys social equality and social harmony.
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