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१०८ :
श्रमण/अक्टूबर-दिसम्बर/१९९६
A non-violent person should be full of benevolence towards all living beings. Also he should avoid food and clothing and other requirements which involve the slaughter of animals, fish, birds etc. All kinds of intoxicating drinks are to be avoided. Similarly, for earning a living it is necessary to avoid trades like brewing, fishing, and butchering etc.
Above all, the origin of non-violence is in the attitude of the mind as explained earlier. The mind should be constantly vigilant, careful and considerate. This would help in eschewing the four passions-anger, conceit, deceit, and greed. All acts performed by such persons will be free from violence. This has been authoritatively stated in the Daśavaikālika Sūtra. Realising that no space is free from life and any moment in the form of thought, speech and physical action involves some injury to some form of life, the questions was asked to Lord Mahāvīra :- "How should one walk, stand, sit, sleep, eat and speak so that the sinful karmic bondage may not accrue (to the soul)".
Lord Mahāvīra replied "With vigilance one should walk, stand, sit, sleep, eat and talk (thus) sinful karmic bondage shall not accrue to the soul".
Such a vigilant conduct avoids defilement of the soul by karmas or sins leading ultimately to freedom from bondage. Apart from future or life hereafter, practice of non-violence makes for a better existence in this life itself. It can ensure peace between nature and man, man and man, man and society and between nation and nation. All the conflicts are desolved through non-violent methods once its principles are put to practice at different levels.
Non-violence in the conduct of man and society is the greatest need in the present times. Faced with the danger of ecological disaster and nuclear holocaust on the one hand and unrestrained materialistic pursuit on the other, humanity is groping in the dark for a ray of light which can save its very existence. Such light is provided by shunning violence at all levels by practicing non-violence.
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