Non-Violence
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petal is harmed, one has transgressed the principles of the Jinas
(the Enlightened Ones)”.
Dadashri: Those are the words of the Tirthankars that
Krupadudev had written. But where is this dictum applicable? It
is for the one who has reached a spiritual level where one is free
from all desires. But for you, you still have to wear these fancy
clothes, do you not?
Questioner: Yes, and they have to be ironed too!
Dadashri: Yes ironed ones at that too! The worldly people
have a need for many things. That is why it is said that one should
offer the flowers to the Lord. Have you not seen people offer
flowers to the idols of Tirthankars?
Religious rituals are done to reduce difficulties in life. The
Lord has said that the ascetics should do intent puja (internalized
offering to the Lord as opposed to dravya puja which utilizes
material objects for external offering). The Jains do dravya puja.
Their worldly obstacles are removed through dravya puja. So I
am saying is that if you have difficulties in life, you should offer
flowers to the Gnani Purush. Those that do not have any difficulties
need not do anything at all. But as far as the Gnani Purush is
concerned, he remains detached.
Yet despite all this, some people still strictly adhere to this
quote and become obsessive about the hurt caused by picking
even flower petals. I tell them that when they do this, they are
mixing both the college and elementary levels of understanding.
They would do better to heed what Krupadudev has said when
they reach a higher spiritual level. I gave them Lord Mahavir’s
example to illustrate the point.
I told them that in His final incarnation, Lord Mahavir was
married and also had a daughter. He led a worldly life until the
age of thirty and despite this He attained full liberation. What
knowledge allowed Him to achieve liberation despite living a