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28 PART IV
One thing must here be made clear. Life thrives on life. The ideal practice of non-injury is possible only to the soul in its perfect condition, i. e. when it has freed itself from the last particle of Karmic matter (Karma varganas). On this side of that happy state, do whatever we will, some life must be transformed into our life in order to sustain it. Therefore what is meant and enjoined is simply this: Do not destroy life, unless it is absolutely necessary for the maintenance of a higher kind of life. The purer souls will, of course, not like to sanction even this. But, as formulated above, the rule does not sanction hurting or injury, it limits it to the lowest possible minimum. As a supplementary rule we have: " And then begin with the least evolved kind of life, e. g. with the sthavaras."
Drink:
All kinds of intoxicants, or even stimulants, are prohibited, They are not necessary for the life and well-being of the body. They feed the passions, and passions are the bitterest foes of the soul. There is also wholesale destruction of small life in the fermentation of brewing and distilling.
GUIDELINES TO MAHAVIR-DARSHAN
Tades and Industries :
Certain trades are prohibited to Jainas as Jainas--brewing, fishing, butchering, and anything that involves wholesale slaughter of living beings for purposes of trade and commerce. But even a brewer or a butcher may be a Jain: then he will be in the vowless stage of soul's evolution (avirata-gunasthana).
Social Behaviour :
A true Jain will do nothing to hurt the feelings of another person, man, woman or child, nor will he violate the principles of Jainism.
Jaina ethics are meant for men of all positions-for kings, warriors, traders, artisans, agriculturists and indeed for men and women in every walk of life. The highest will find in the Jain rules of conduct satisfactory guidance for their affairs and the meanest can follow them. "Do your duty. Do it as humanely as you can." This, in brief, is the primary precept of Jainism. Non-killing cannot interfere with one's duties. The king, or the judge, has to hang a murderer. The murderer's act is the negation of a right of the
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