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manyness. Nothing in this world is fully contradictory or non-contradictory. Contradiction and non-contradiction co-exist. As such we must cultivate the habit of forbearing even opposite thoughts and try to search similarities in them. This norm of non-absolutism should be imbibed by the members of the society so that the life-style of non-violence becomes easy.
President Gorbachev has been one of the very few statesmen in the world who has understood that the world is interrelated, interdependent and integral. This is the very essence of non-absolutism. 5. Endurance
This virtue is the foundation stone of happy co-existence. In a family or in the society so many men and women live together. They have their own way of working, thinking, eating and behaving. These things vary from one individual to another. If one does not tolerate other family members, there will arise unharmonious situation and the unity of a family will come to an end. The older member of the family should be more and more tolerant. He should never try to make all the members follow him. If he stresses that no member of the society should think independently, but follow his own thinking, this begets hatred.
The theory of non-violence is the pivot of Śramana tradition. Sraman is made of the word 'Sama' It has three derivatives :
Equanimity (Sama) Passionless State (Shama) Self-restraint, freedom and self exertion (Shrama)
Lord Mahavira's tradition in based on 'Sama' with its threefold expressions. In the course of time, this theory of 'Sama' was thrown to the background and non-violence came in the forefront. The question arises, can non-violence survive in the absence of this trinity? The reply will be in the negative. This trinity is very essential in day to day life.
Violence is not an activity in itself, but a consequence. Without eradicating the main activity, the consequence can never be wiped off. When the tree is flowering and blossoming, we can never stop it giving fruits. It will undoubtedly bear fruits. Let us reach the root of himsa and hit hard at it, so that it is annihilated.
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