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Jainism : The Cosmic Vision perform. He said, “It is a false belief that the monk alone should practise religion and the householder can enjoy himself. Like the monk, the householder should practise religion. While the monk should thoroughly and strictly observe vows, the householder should observe vows as far as he can. Thus there are five great vows for the monk and five small vows and seven shikshavratas (vows of penitence) for the householder. If a person observes these vows, he would be triumphant. Don't kill beasts for sacrificial rites. Don't conceal scriptures. Don't hate the enemy."
Bhagwan Mahavira showed that the differences of creeds and sects are subsidiary and every creed has relative truth. He preached that man should never cause, harm to anyone. He gave the doctrine of anekantavada to promote tolerance in thought. He taught syadvada to promote harmless speech. He showed the importance of possessionlessness in society. He said,
घम्मो मंगलमुक्किठं, अहिंसा संजमो तवो ।
देवा वि तं नमसंति जस्स घम्मे सया मणो ।। (Religion is superemely auspicious. Non-violence, self-control and austerity are its characteristics. Even gods bow down to him who always rejoices in religion.)
Bhagwan prescribed some rules for attaining the salvation of the soul. These rules are vows. There are five great vows.
The first great vow is Ahimsa (non-violence). Bhagwan Mahavira said, “If you kill someone, it is yourself you kill. If you dominate someone, it is yourself you dominate. If you torment someone, it is yourself you torment. If you harm someone, it is yourself you harm." A wise man knows this and
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