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260
THE WAY OF LIFE
you must record them in your mind. After understanding some idea clearly, you must remember it.
If you do so, you will transform your knowledge into wisdom. You must listen with concentration. You must listen to explanations with deep attention.
The Tirthankars have said that non-violence is the foundation of Dharma. It is the characteristic quality of Dharma. You have heard this. Think that you have understood this statement. You remember it thus. Non-violence is the foundation of Dharma; and it is the characteristic quality of Dharma.
In order to transform this knowledge into Vijnan (systematised and analysed knowledge) you have to carry out a deep contemplation. The basic word in non-violence is violence. The prefix "non" carries with it a negative sense. The first question that rises in the mind is; what is violence. You will get an answer. प्रमत्तयोगात् प्राणव्यपरोपणम हिंसा (Pramaththayogath Pranavyaparopanam Himsa). Killing jivas on account of infatuation is violence. Now the question arises : "What is infatuation ?" If you think about this, you will get the answer; Infatuation is the other name for sensual desires and passions. Therefore, violence means killing other jivas prompted by a desire to fulfil our sensual desires. Violence means killing jivas on account of anger, pride, avarice or deception. Even killing jivas in a purposeless manner is violence. Even if some jivas die on account of disuse or neglect, it is violence.
Another new question arises. Supposing a certain action of ours causes the death of a jiva though we never had the intention of killing it, it is violence. A grihastha has to take a bath to worship the Paramatma. When he takes a bath, the jivas in the water may die. When we build a temple, Prithvikaya jivas such as clay, sand, metal, coral die; water-creatures die. Trasakaya jivas (the jivas that by their own will move and aet) die. Jivas die when people go on a pilgrimage or when they go to the Gurumaharaj. Then, what are we to do?
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