Mahavira, the Jain patriarch, surpassed the morality of the Bible with a single sentence: “Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture, or kill any creature or living being.” Imagine how different our world might be if the Bible contained this as its central precept. He was the twenty-fourth Tirthankara (ford maker) of Jainism. In the Jain tradition, it is believed that Mahavira was born in early part of the 6th-century BC into a royal family in what is now Bihar, India. In the present situation of violence all over the world, the quotes of Lord Mahavira of Jainism are very worthy to be followed. Below are some of the best mahavira quotes.
1. Anger begets more anger, and forgiveness and love lead to more forgiveness and love.
2. Do not deprive someone of his livelihood. This is a sinful tendency.
3. All souls are equal and alike and have the similar nature and qualities.
4. Eating constitutes the greatest obstacle to self-control; it gives rise to indolence.
5. Modes are infinite, and laws are infinite.
6. Live and allow others to live; hurt no one; life is dear to all living beings.
7. Don’t accumulate if you do not need. The excess of wealth in your hands is for the society, and you are the trustee for the same.
8. Attachment and aversion are the root cause of karma, and karma originates from infatuation. Karma is the root cause of birth and death, and these are said to be the source of misery. None can escape the effect of their own past karma.
9. If one undertakes retrospection of the day’s events, one must do it regularly at the appointed hour, not fitfully, not doing it today, neglecting to do it tomorrow and the day after and then taking it up again on the fourth day. Such irregular practice is not conducive to the confirmation of the habit of retrospection.
10. Soul is the central point of spiritual discipline.