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The Jains through Time
• Ahimsa in vritti means the uninterrupted good. Therefore we too have given up flow of ahimsa from the depths of one's doing good." Then I say, “As the others have inner being, One who has an attitude of not yet put a limit on their doing evil, why ahimsa from within can never hurt, distress do you put a limit on your doing good? If or kill anyone or anything. This means that evil can be without limits, the same must when our inner-being is suffused with hold true for good.” In actual fact evil does ahimsa the espousal of himsa ceases to exist. have limits but goodness knows no bounds! This assimilation of ahimsa is not for the sake of gaining heaven, securing prestige Time is eternally fresh because it moves and comfort in society or for the family. forward every moment; every instant One whose consciousness is imbued with something new appears. Man, however, stays ahimsa simply cannot commit a violent or as he is; he seems reluctant to move forward. harmful act, even if he forfeits his life in the This is what is called going towards death. process. For him ahimsa has become part of On the contrary, life means going onwards his nature. 'I should love my enemies, no together with Time. There should not be longer needs to remain a principle for him; the slightest gap between life and Time. This it has actually been realised as he has no involves being able to catch the fleeting enemieseleft. He does not need to say that moment, an ability given only to a few we should all love one another because he enlightened individuals. One who lets Time has nothing but love for others within him. slip by, allows death to take over. Only when This is ahimsa in vritti in its all-pervading the individual keeps pace with Time does and eternal form.
he realise what life is.
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• You say, “How long should we continue doing good for others? Kindness too has its limits. For our part we go on helping people, but they keep on returning evil for
. From time to time situations arise in life that appear small and insignificant, but in reality they are very important. People should be careful to examine events
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