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NEW IDEOLOGIES NEW TRADITIONS
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gether or not, live amiably or not, mitigate animosity or not, you have to be kind and forgiving to him'
'Why should it be unilaterally incumbent upon me, sire ?'
'To be a shramana implies peace It implies fellow-feeling Since you endeavour to be a true shramana, I exhort you to promote fellow-feeling One who does so is a shramana in the absence of this promotion of fellow-feeling one is not a true shramana'
We cannot expect everybody to attain shramanahood Even shramanas vary in temperament Keeping this factor In view the Lord prescribed, 'If fellow-feeling is not aroused instantaneously, one should try to undergo the sublime experience every fortnight If it be too much let one experience it once every four months If this be found too prequant to be practical, try it annually If even once a year the knot of il-will is not dissolved, evoking love for the entire creation, take it for granted that your vision is far from a harmonious and a truly spiritual one
"Harmonious Vision is a prerequisite of a spiritual outlook And tranquil and kindly attitude is the hall-mark of a harmonious vision An individual shorn of an all-pervading kindliness is not truly spiritual in Mahavira's view Chandpradyota won release from his prison-house by converting this aphorism of Mahavira into practice
Chandpradyota kidnapped the beautiful maid of king Udrayana of Sindhu Sauvira and took her to Ujjaini Consequently, Udrayana invaded Ujjaini Chandpradyota was defeated Udrayana imprisoned him and took him to Sindhu Sauvira It rained heavily in the way Udrayana camped at Daspur en route It was the annual ceremony of good-will Udrayana retrospected his preceding year's conduct and addressed Chandpradyota thus 'Let's celebrate the festival in mutual forgiveness' ,
Said Chandpradyota, 'How can forgiveness and confinement go hand in hand? And how do you expect a prisoner to extend a feeling of forgiveness for his detainer? It is Lord
