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CHAPTER SEVEN
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renunciation is desirable for the sake of a balanced maintenance of popular life; besides, such renunciation is possible for the most part. Thus even if there has been no renunciation of all act of negligence but if the tendency towards a gross deprivation of life has been reduced-then too there often prevail happiness and calm in popular life. Certainly, in virtue of the stagewise evolution of the tendency to non-violence it becomes possible that among the people at large there takes place first the renunciation of a gross deprivation of life and gradually the renunciation of all act of negligence. Hence even though the renunciation of violence of the form of an act of negligence is recommended to be adopted as an instrument of high spiritual evolution, yet from the point of view of popular life the gross deprivation of life too is treated as a case of violence and its renunciation as a case of non-violence.
Question : Understood that non-violence means refrainment from what the theoretician has called violence. But let it be further told as to what duties aimed at building up life are incumbent on one who has accepted the vrata of non-violence as thus understood.
Answer: (1) To keep on rendering life simpler and simpler and to keep on reducing its requirements more and more.
(2) Whatever might be the scope of ignorance within the sphere of human activity there is yet place in it for knowledge as per one's endeavour. Hence to be ever vigilant and to be careful that no mistakes are committed, and if a mistake has been actually committed then to develop such a view that it is not thrust away out of sight.
(3) Even while reducing one's requirements and even while aiming at vigilance to constantly endeavour to reduce the craving for a gross life-craving that is one real defilement of mind-as also the other defilements like attachment and aversion that are born of this one defilement.
Question : The character of being a defilement is above attributed to violence. What is meant by that ?
Answer: Whatever reduces the softness of mind and
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