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A Journey of Ahimsa men." Non-violence be reflected in thought, speech and action and from the principle of non-violence is born truth, celibacy, non-possessiveness and anekant (respecting different viewpoints). Possessiveness and violence are related and therefore, without practising non-possessiveness - aparigraha - it is difficult to practise non-violence. Aparigraha is not poverty, but abdication of inessentials. It can restore economic equality in the world. Greed breeds cruelty and compassion can flow only when one gets rid of greed and develops a sense of treating all as equals. Thus Bhagwan Mahavira's concept of non-violence is not an external thing, but a way of life with a basis in mind and heart.
परस्परोपग्रहो जीवानाम् – Each living creature depends on another living creature. He subjected his concept of non-violence to a very rigorous test. He, along with his disciple Goshalak, visited a region Radh inhabited by a ruthless and murderous tribe. There he saw fierce dogs feeding on human flesh, but Mahavira did not use even a stick to ward of the blood thirsty hounds. He wandered among the violent, barbaric tribe unarmed and spread the message of non-violence.
The moot question is - why are we celebrating this year as a Year of Non-violence ? The reason is that humanity today is enveloped by violent forces. Violence was there in the times of Mahavira, too, but then there was no alternative to it. Today we have with us the concept of non-violence and its practice has led to amazing results which are recorded in history. Ironically enough, we still resort to violence to solve our problem when the results of non-violence are there for all to see. The distortions, that have crept into our thinking, have led
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