Book Title: Jainism by Vividus
Author(s): Ramnik V Shah
Publisher: Ramnik V Shah Canada

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Page 132
________________ which observance of non-violence is stretched disregarding totally the sense of cleanliness and hygiene both individual and public, despite available up-to-date facilities is unworthly and ridiculous. My concern is not to ask you to give up observing the vow of non-violence in general but to bring about a sense of proportion in this observance. It will be more relevant if we observe non-violence in our daily food and life dealings in business, with acquaintances, friends, neighbours, even family members and relatives and society at large including enemies. It seems to me quite unreasonable and also against the spirit of Jainism if only this virtue of non-violence is so highly blown up and towards other several virtues so necessary to be cultivated an 'I care less' attitude is developed. And this is exactly what is happening to day among the Jainas who proclaim with pride on paper the necessity of their practice. That it is so with others also is no reason for our non-observance. Nor also the difficulties and inconveniences likely to be faced in their observance The virtue of abstaining from falsehoods and stealings-compromising principles for a pot of gold and it is never always gold-and this means and includes also depriving your customers if you are dealers or shop owners and your hawkers, peddlers, or store-owners if you are buying consumers or even house-servants, vegetable and grain merchants, even wife, children, relatives, friends, Associations etc. in short those who look upon their support, of their rightful warranties and claims; the virtue of non-accumulation of things and wealth you may want to look equal to or better than or even superior to your friends and neighbours but do not need; the virtue of non-attention with covetous eyes wives and daughters of others including beautiful men, models or actresses; these really are the corner-stones of not only Jaina society but also of any society. Besides these five, there are other seven which too are important, particularly those of, not imposing yourself thoughtlessly on others-Anarthadandavrat-and 'others' certainly include wife and children as it includes servants and lowly ones, friends, relatives and society at large: the iimiting of sensual enjoyments by not only eyes and hands but also tongues and ears-Bhogopabhogapariman- the non-observance of which 16

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