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The Path of Arhat : A Religious Democracy
his grave today - much before the day of Kayāmata - and see the results of his pure dialectical materialism.
Among the modern political leaders of the world, Mahatma Gandhi may be credited to have practiced whatever he preached to others.
He himself had no 'Parigraha' and taught the Indians as well as the whole world that limitation of desires and restraint of possessions, simple living and high thinking, are the only realistic way to live a happy, contended and peaceful life - a life without conflicts and constraints. But ironically and unfortunately his teachings were not given even a polite and courteous nod of affirmation by his own followers during his own life time and the economy of India - the land where the lessons of ‘Aparigraha' have been taught through thousands of years -- has willingly slided and slipped to western economy and materialistic pursuits.
Aparigraha' is more relevant today than it was in the times of Mahavīra two thousand and five hundred years ago.
We shall next consider the modus operandi to implement this Pañcaśīla.
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