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The Relevance of the Teachings of Lord Mahāvīra in ...
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The saints or nuns abjure all the four types but the layman can renounce only the first type, while he has to indulge in the other three categories, but after observing proper vigilance.
The positive side of non-violence is as important as the negative side but this is sometimes not fully appreciated. The positive side implies kindness, forgiveness, charity and service. This has been beautifully explained in a verse by the renowned Ācārya Amitagati of the 11th century AD as: “Friendship towards all beings, respect for the qualifies of virtuous people, utmost compassion for the afflicted beings and equanimity towards those who are not well disposed towards me -may my soul have these dispositions for ever.”:10
A non-violent person should be full of benevolence towards all living beings. Also he should avoid food, clothing and other requirements, which involve the slaughter of animals. He should also not indulge in trades like brewing, fishing and butchering. Non-violence is the greatest need of 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 the ray of light, which can save its very existence. Such light is provided by shunning violence at all levels and by practising non-violence.
Equality
Mahāvīra laid great stress on the equality of all human beings. The stress on action and not birth as a determining factor of superiority was a radical step in the teachings of Mahāvīra. He proclaimed, “A person does not become a monk by merely tonsuring, nor a Brahmin by reciting Omkāra Mantra, nor a Muni by living in the forest, nor a hermit by wearing cloths woven out
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