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PATH OF LIBERATION
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(366) He, who harbours desire for worthless worldly pleasures and disregard for bliss of emancipation, is like a person who destroys a (real) gem for a (glittering) piece of glass.
(367) Mental state of the form of refrainment from killing living beings after having knowledge of them in respect of their species-of-birth, place-of-birth, peculiarities and (märgaņāsthāna)-this is called the first vow (viz-non-killing).
(368) Ahimsā is the heart of all stages of life, the core of all sacred texts, and the sum (piņda) and substance (sāra) of all vows and virtues.
(369) One should not speak or excite others to speak harmful false words, either in the interest of oneself or of another, through anger or fear.
(370) He, who desists from a desire to take anything belonging to others, on seeing it lying in a village or town or forest, observes the third vow of non-stealing.
(371) Nothing whether animate or inanimate, whether cheap or dear - nay, not even a tooth-brushing piece-of-stick- - (is to be taken) without being asked for, while staying at a place fixed for residence.
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