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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision
Non-violence as a creed is unique and Mahavira observed: The earth, water, fire, wind and plants - all have life in them and we must accept and respect their existence. If you deny their existence, you deny your own. And that's also a form of violence. If you accept that life exists in these elements, you are really non-violent and such a thinking can become the foundation of modern environment.
Mahavira's non-violence is the result of a supremely compassionate soul which accepts the principle of equality of all living creatures.
He not merely preached or propagated non-violence, but practised it and his life has been its embodiment. His experiment with non-violence turned Vardhaman into Mahavira. He made his body suffer a variety of pains and got rid of the attachment to the body. As a result, no obstacles could come his way during the course of rigorous penance. One, who is attached to the body, can never be non-violent.
He gave up his abode in the Duijjant Tapas ashram near Vaishali when he realised that his penance might hurt others in the vicinity and he sought refuge in forests or some deserted places. He suffered all types of pains that life offered him without complaining. While in a state of deep meditation, nothing touched him as his inner consciousness was aroused. The very thought of violence would result in formation of Karma (a form of matter), he believed. Telling lies or to behave in a way which would cause pain to others or to support a violent act is also a form of violence, according to Mahavira. Violence is first born in mind and then is reflected in speech and behaviour. It is truly said: "War is born in the minds of
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