Non-Violence
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Dadashri: They will not be able to understand it even then.
They only understand the vegetation, but even that knowledge is
limited.
Let me explain this to you in the Lord’s language: There is
life in all the vegetation that you see around you. Life is also present
in the air, the dirt and the rocks. The rocks also contain living
organisms known as proothvikaya. Flames of a fire are really a
collection of organisms called teookaya. The water we drink is
composed of jalkaya, the organisms whose very bodies are in a
glass of water. Water is composed entirely of animate beings.
Everything around you, water, food, air, earth and fire is living.
The Spiritual Power of Non-Violence
Questioner: So how can one attain absolute ahimsa?
Dadashri: Ahimsa? My goodness! If one attained absolute
ahimsa, one would become the Lord. In the meantime however,
do you at least practice some ahimsa?
Questioner: Some, not a lot.
Dadashri: Very well then, why don’t you make a decision
to practice at least some ahimsa? Talking about absolute ahimsa
is futile. Such ahimsa when achieved makes man the Lord.
Questioner: Show us how to practice ahimsa.
Dadashri: Most important of all, you must not hurt or inflict
pain on any living being that fears your mere presence. Animals
and insects instinctively flee from you in fear, and so you must not
harm them. It is fine for you to eat grains such as wheat, millet,
oats and rice etc., because although they contain life, that life is in
an unconscious state and does not perceive fear, whereas insects
will flee from you when they sense danger. You must not harm
any life-forms starting at the level of two-sensory organisms such
as fish, which move around, all the way to five-sensory organisms,
including insects. Even a bedbug is terrified when you catch it, so