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of violence. It is not proper to refuse those activities for the fear of violence. They are included in the duties of the householders and they must discharge them with a desireless disposition. Violence within Positive Non-violence is Also Violence –
However, it is necessary that we understand that the violence committed in the pursuit of activities that constitute positive nonviolence is also positively violence. Otherwise our spring of kindness and compassion will dry up. We may have to commit violence due to it's being essential and unavoidable, but we must have a feeling of remorse for committing it and must also have a merciful disposition towards the objects of that violence otherwise violence will get ingrained in our nature just as it does in a butcher's child. The discretion dictates that we do not only free ourselves from passions, attachment and aversion but that we also keep our sensitivity intact. The stream of mercy, kindness and compassion must keep flowing eternally in our hearts. We don't have to pursue heartless non-violence. The reason being as long as we remain sensitive to others, pain and misery the amount of violence in any activities that we pursue will be barest minimum and in due course we will also be able to observe the ideal of absolute non-violence. It is then that our pursuit of non-violence will become positive and will be able to release the flow of service and cooperation in the human society.
Also, even when violence becomes absolutely essential and if there is a choice between two forms of violence, we must choose the lesser of the two. However, the question as to which form of violence is lesser will depend on many considerations such as place, time, circumstance, etc. Here, we will have to assess the life-value of the creatures at stake. The life-value of any creature depends on two considerations, namely - 1. The sensory and spiritual development of the creatures in question and 2. Their social utility or usefulness. Generally, a human life is more valuable than an animal life and within the human lives also the life of a spiritually accomplished saint is considered as more valuable. At times, however, an animal life may
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