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are equally afraid of death. Therefore, every living being should protect every other living being whether it is endowed with one sense or five senses, whether it is an animal or a man. There is life (jiva) even in earth, water, fire, air and vegetables. The soul in all living beings is like the soul in us. There is absolutely no difference between the soul of an ant and the soul of an elephant though the very same soul (Atma) takes the form of an ant as well as that of an elephant. Contraction and expansion are the characteristic attributes of every living being and due to the bondage of Karmas, a soul finds itself born in any one of the eighty-four lacs of forms of existence.
"That there is no sin in killing those who are detrimental to us" is a voice of violence. This world really is under the commandment of the Omniscient Lord (Sarvajna Paramatma). His all embracing and comprehensive teaching is that if any living being is illdisposed towards us and thus may annoy us, even so we must Love and give protection to it, whether it is an animal or a man, belonging to any country or residing anywhere. This is the magnanimity of the Jain Religion! What a height of eminence! And
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
