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Universal Message of Lord Mahāvīra
of kusa grass. One becomes a monk by equanimity, a Brahmin by celibacy, a Muni by his knowledge and a hermit by his austerities."!!
Lord Mahāvīra had great regard for women. He said that both men and women were eligible to attain emancipation after destroying the passions and karmas. He declared, "There are many virtuous women who are famous for their purity and chastity. They are like the goddesses before whom even the celestials bow.”!? According to Jainism, all barriers of caste, creed and colour are artificial and must be removed. The principle of equality propounds that every one has a right to live. The directive principle of living is not "living on others" or "living by killing” but “living with and for others - Parasparopagrahojīvānām".
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So far as the welfare of human society is concerned, it depends on mutual co-operation, sacrifice of our own interest for the sake of our fellow beings and regard for other's life. If the above-mentioned elements are essential for our social life, then non-violence is absolutely necessary for human life. Society exists not on violence but on non-violence, not on fulfilment of self- interest but on sacrifice of self-interest, not on claiming for our own rights but accepting the rights of others too. Thus, we can say that non-violence is an inevitable principle of existence of human society.
Aparigraha: Limiting the desires and passions
Aparigraha is the fifth vow of monks and nuns in the Jaina code of ethics (Mahāvrata). For householders also it is the fifth vow in their code of ethics known as Aņuvrata. This principle has great importance in the present world when we are going on increasing our requirements and desires to the maximum. Jaina preachers say that the source of happiness and peace lies within the human self
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