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RELEVANCE OF NON-VIOLENCE IN MORDEN LIFE :
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living being is the quintessence of all wisdom. One has to understand that non-violence and equality of all living beings are the essentials of Dharma".}
He further says, "O man! think that the being whom you want to kill is just like you, he too experiences happiness and sorrow just like you. The being whom you want to hurt and harm is just like you, the being whom you want to punish and drive away is also just like you. A noble aspirant lives upto these sentiments and neither harms nor kills any living being nor does he cause them to be harmed and killed by others. One has to bear the consequences of one's actions."
Equality of Living Beings
Jainism believes that all living beings are equal and life in every creature has to be respected. They believe that not only human beings but animals, birds, plants and even the tiniest creatures have souls. Not only that, but even creatures in air, water and fire, though invisible, have souls. Lord Mahāvīra said, "All living beings desire to live. They detest sorrow and death and desire a long and happy life". Therefore, he gave the famous slogan "live and let live".
The world to-day is passing through a serious crisis. Violence has increased tremendously in society. Advanced countries are producing weapons and most dangerous bombs on such a mass scale that the whole humanity can be wiped out within a few days. During the bomb attacks in Hiroshima and Nagasaki 50 years ago, lacs of people were killed but to-day if unfortunately another world war breaks out, it will be most disastrous for the whole Humanity. Besides the dangers of war, there is too much suspicion in the minds of the people. Since last few years, terrorism has spread in many countries and societies, thus tension has increased and there is no real peace in the world.
The principle of non-violence embraces not only human or the animal kingdom but also trees, vegetables, air and water as all these are considered as living beings with souls. As such they also feel
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