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THE WAY OF LIFE
should occur not only to the Shravaks and Shravikas; not only to Jains; but to all human beings, whatever may be their dharma. All the spiritualistic religions preach the importance of spiritual contemplation and spiritual elevation. In this country, every house hums with the precepts and prescriptions relating to the kind of life that brings spiritual elevation; and the kind of life that brings about spiritual ruin. Parents at home instruct their children regarding these things; and they also advise their children regarding the propriety with respect to dress and decorations. On account of this, our domestic and social problems become lessened.
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EVEN THIS IS A REAL INCIDENT
Those who do not wear dress and decorations that accord with the norms of their society and nation, will certainly fall into difficulties. Some years ago, I read a story that took place in Uttar Pradesh, and which deals with this theme. Two young men belonging to a small town were studying in the Banaras University. They came home for the Deepavali holidays. Both were brahmins. But they were studying in a college; you know. They had cut off their tufts of hair from their heads. If they had tufts, their fellow-students in the college would call them "orthodox people". They would also make fun of them. So, they had cut off their traditional tufts of hair. Just when they had come home for the holidays, a religious fair was taking place on the banks of a sacred river, nearby. There was a temple on the bank of the river; and fair was going on. In a village nearby Muslims lived. At that time, there was a serious hostility between Hindus and Muslims there. Quarrels also took place between the two groups. If a Muslim came into the village where Hindus lived, he would not return alive; and if a Hindu went into the village where Muslims lived, he would not return alive. On seeing a Muslim, a Hindu would cease to be a human being; and would behave like a violent beast; and on seeing a Hindu, a Muslim would cease to be a human being and would become a violent beast. The inner fire of hatred was waiting for an opportunity to flare out.
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