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outstanding form of compassion and pure conscience is the excellent conduct known as 'as enunciated' conduct (Yathakhyāt Caritra). The spiritual result of practicing this excellent conduct is in the form of liberation and the external physical result is in the form of earning of meritorious karma. From this it also becomes evident that there is a close relationship between the physical development and the spiritual development. The rule is that as the spiritual development takes place, the physical development follows automatically. Physical development does not necessarily mean increase in means of mundane enjoyment but it is in the form of getting good body, good senses, etc., and to get the peace and happiness that can be gained by means of auspicious activities to be done through them. This kind of excellent state of meritorious karmic intensity is seen in the case of detached omniscient Lords.
If the activities of mercy, kindness, compassion, charity, service to the needy, benevolence, affection, etc., are considered deplorable and abandonable because they result in meritorious karmic influx and bondage, we will also have to consider the activities of restraint, renunciation, penance, pious and pure contemplations (Dharma-dhyāna and Śukla-dhyāna), destruction of passions and practicing of 'as enunciated' (perfect) monastic conduct (Yathākhyāt caritra) as deplorable and abandonable as they result in much more meritorious karmic influx and bondage as compared to the activities comprising positive non-violence as listed earlier. Even such a thought cannot be entertained as it is against the canonical teachings and the very religious precepts. As the latter activities are acceptable as means to the pursuit of spiritual emancipation so must be the former activities on the strength of the same argument. Activities of both these kinds are acceptable or beneficial and not deplorable or abandonable.
The spiritual purity is the means of gaining meritorious karmic influx as well as liberation. Restraint, renunciation, penance, etc., inhibit sinful tendencies and purify the soul. Therefore, they are the means of meritorious karmic influx and bondage as well as those of liberation.
Positive Non-Violence
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