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22
The Religious Order and its System
Lord Mahavira pursued non-violence Such a conduct implies dissolution of the mental glands This is deliverance, this is freedom in political termnology the connotation of freedom is relative A country is in bondage when reigned by another country When the people themselves exercise sovereignty over their territory the country is termed as independent In the domain of non-violence freedom is an absolute term One whose mind is not free of the glands of inhibitions and prejudices is fettered irrespective of the fact whether others rule him or not One whose mind is free of these inhibition is free notwithstanding another's dominance over him in his slightly enigmatic style said he, 'A non-violent being is neither in bondage nor free He is not in bondage since no external restriction fetters him He is not free as he is not supposed to flout the norms of self-discipline'
A non-violent being participating in community life does accept the restraint of a social system but his orientation is more towards freedom from systems
Lord Mahavira propounded a society which is free from the tyranny of a system Such a society has not materialised to date and hence we may fail to appreciate such a Utopia but the fact remains that it has been conceived which is no small thing in itself
The Lord revealed that the gods par excellence are called Ahamindra Each divine of this kind is independent There is
