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JAINISM AND DEMOBRACY
On the other hand, he wished emancipation of those misguided souls, who were committing such acts out of ignorance. A sinner, he thought, is a diseased person, deserving our sympathy and love. One should wish for his recovery 'from the disease and not be angry upon him. "I cherish friendship with all the beings and enmity to none"--this was the keyword of Mahavira during his practices.
Most of his time during the long period of twelve years of spiritual practices, passed in penance and meditation. He kept long fasts ranging upto six months and took food only a few times. These severe practices gave him strengh, so much, so that physical discomforts had no meaning for him. He distinctly realised that soul is separate from the body, and any injury to the body has no relation with soul. Attachment is the weakness of man and he had risen above all attachments.
At the age of forty-two, on the bank of Sadanira, he got enlightenment and became Arhan, a perfect soul, worthy of worship. He realized that every soul possesses, by nature, four infinites, i.e. Infinite Knowledge, Infinite Intuition, Infinite Bliss and Infinite Energy. This nature of soul is obscured by the karmic matter. As soon as the soul is purified of this dirt, it regains the four infinites. It should be therefore, the aim of every soul to make an effort to get rid of karmic influence. Having realized the truth, he started for propagation of his mission.
The Mission of Mahāvira can be summed up in one word and that is Samatā (equality). It is the essence of
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