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THE METHOD AND THE MEANS. 89
word or deed and Abhidhya, not coveting other's goods, not thinking vain thoughts, and not brooding over injuries received from another. The one idea that deserves special notice in this list is Ahimsa, non-injury to others. This duty of non-injury is obligatory on the devotee in relation to all beings. As with some of us, it does not mean simply the not-injuring of human beings and mercilessness towards the lower animals-nor as with some others, does it mean, the protecting of cats and dogs and the feeding of ants with sugar, with liberty to injure brotherman in every horrible way. It is remarkable that almost every good idea in this world can be carried to a disgusting extreme. A good practice carried to an extreme and worked in accordance with the letter of the law, becomes a positive evil and it is a matter of no less regret that the practice of noninjury too, has not been an exception to this. The stinking monks of certain religious
