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JAINISM AND DEMOCRACY
from longer duration to a shorter one and can be renderd quite fruitless through penances and other practices.. Thus, Jainism leaves enough scope for personal efforts, not overlooking the influence of former actions. Thus, the Jain theory of Karman, places entire responsibility of pleasure or pain on the individual.
The mission of Mahāvira can be summed up in the following four respects, and I believe,they are the summum bonum of democracy :
1. Respect for life. 2. Respect for mind. 3. Respect for soul. 4. Respect for personal potencies.
This is a short account of the mission of Mahāvira. It is wrong to confine him to a particular sect or creed. He was a leader of mankind and showed the path of true democracy. He lived and preached the path of nonviolence which has been the foundation of India in the past. It is time that our nation realizes the importance of his Mission and tries to implement it in life.
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