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JAINISM WILL STOP WARS
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an action, but the former cannot, though the effect of action on another is easily discernible but not so on one's own self. What happens is this that with every action there flows a subtle invisible kind of material into the soul which combines with it and modifies its constitution and disposition. The soul is a simple substance, and therofore immortal, since compounds alone are liable to disintegration, disruption and destruction. But in combination with matter, spirit or soul itself becomes subject to birth and death. Matter also interferes with its other attributes which are fully divine, whence the statement 'I have said Ye are Gods.' The divinity of the soul can be realised if it can be rid of the crippling companionship of matter. But, as already pointed out, matter comes into it with every thought, word and deed. How, then, is this poisonous influx to be stopped? It cannot be done all at once surely. There is a graduated path of progress along which success can be easily attained. This material influx is of two kinds, bad and less bad. First of all we must so manage our psychology as to avoid the worst forms of this influx, and then gradually all influx itself. I have no time to go deeply into the question today, but I may say that it is capable of rational demonstration along the most rigorous line of enquiry that may be known to science. The principle is that all selfish forms of desire for the things of the senses are the causes which give rise to the worst effects that flow from the material influx. Words and deeds, and thoughts, which are less tinged with selfishness are, then, the causes which enable one to avoid the worst forms of the evil. Therefore, in loving one's neighbour one escapes from the worst results of this influx, and in hating any one, even though it be only an animal that is killed or devoured, one courts the worst fate for oneself, by engendering the very worst types of combinations between his own soul and the subtle material that is constantly pouring into it. This
why it is laid down as a commandment in the Bible: thou shalt not kill! You will notice that there are no qualifying words in this commandment to restrict the injunction to any particular class of life; but today we read it as if it were only said. thou shalt not kill man! The higher law explains the reason why thou shalt not kill even an animal,
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