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Mitti me savvabhūesu, veram majjham na keņail'
I have friendship for all living beings and animosity for none. This aphorism is repeated every morning and evening by all faithful followers who undertake the practice of Pratikramaņa or retracting from the excesses committed by them and consequent flaws. In this aphorism the author does not stop at the negative in just saying, 'I do not have animosity for any living beings' but goes on to add the positive part, 'I have friendship for all’. If the canonical author had just desired to convey the proscriptive side of non-violence, he would have stopped at saying, 'I do not have animosity for any living beings' and it would not have been necessary to add the part, I have friendship for all'. From this aphorism it is clear that the author wishes to emphasise both the proscriptive and the prescriptive sides of non-violence. The reason being that in saying 'I do not have animosity for any living beings does not imply saying 'I have friendship for all
To overcome enmity is important because it gives eligibility and strength for friendship. Actually, it is the feeling of friendship that is important. Not only this, without the feeling of friendship the absence of enmity will not last long. The reason is that the heart in which the spring of friendship does not flow eternal is a dry and sapless heart. Dryness results in boredom. Therefore, a true spiritual aspirant's heart is always full of the feeling that everyone must be well and happy. This is the true feeling of friendship. As has been said in the Sāmāyika rendering, 'Sattveșu maitrī' or 'friendship for all’.
In what follows, we present some thoughts on friendship and animosity and their benefits and harms - 1. Enmity destroys peace and happiness, because seeing others’
flaws is at the root of enmity. When we recall the instances of our hurts and harms we can only be driven by the feelings of retaliation. This gives rise to flames of enmity. The heart that is aflame with feelings of animosity cannot have peace and happiness.
Positive Non-Violence
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