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Appendix VI Live and Let Live*
Shri Dulichand Jain, Secretary, Research Foundation for Jainology, Madras, spoke on the 'Relevance of non-violence in modern life', under the auspices of ‘Nirvāṇa’, (a socio-cultural organisation) recently. A brief summary of this talk is given below.
Lord Mahāvīra (599 B.C. to 527 B.C.), the twenty-fourth and last of the Tīrtharkaras, hailed non-violence as a goddess - 'Bhagavati Ahimsā”.
Faced with the twin dangers of ecological disaster and nuclear holocaust on the one hand, and the unabashed, unrestrained and harmful pursuit of material and sense pleasures on the other, mankind is groping today for that vital spark of light that can guide its way out of this frightening darkness.
This ray of light, the hope for humanity, can best be provided only by non-violence in speech, manner and conduct at all levels, in all places.
Non-violence is basically an attitude of mind. The mind must be tuned to be ever vigilant, careful and considerate towards all beings. This principle is authoritatively enunciated in the Daśavaikālika-sūtra.
Practice of non-violence makes for better existence and ensures harmony between man and man and between man and
nature.
* The Indian Express, 1 November 1995
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