Question

What was Mahavira’s teaching?
(a) Live and let live
(b) Neither live nor to be lived
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these

Answer 1

Live and let live was the main theme of Mahavira's teaching.

• Mahavira mainly focused on ahimsa that includes all living organisms that have no rights to be harmed.

• Every organism should have the right to live.

• He also believed that hurting other people can result in the exposure of Karma that cannot be escaped.

• According to Mahatma Gandhi, Mahavira was considered the greatest authority of ahimsa.

Answer 2

(d) None of these are the Mahvira's teachings.

Lord Mahavira;

In the Jain religion Lord Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara. He was son of the king and known as Vardhaman prince. at the age of 30 he left his family and royal household to become a monk. By becoming a monk in to ease pain, sorrow, and suffering.

Teachings of Mahavira;

1. Ahimsa called as non-violence. In his teaching every individual should not harm others and themselves. Every living being need to be respectedwif.
2. Satya denotes truth. Everyone should follow the path of truth. According to Mahavira individual should not lie and apply satya(truth) in their lives.
3. Asteya or Non-stealing- according to his teachings people should not take anything that is not given back. People should carry their own means and not to steal from others.
4. Brahmacharya means Chasity- in reference to any sexual pleasure is a sin. Individual should stay away from any sexual pleasure and control his/her urge.
5. Aparigraha known as non-attachment or non-possession- His teaching states that people should detach himself/herself from the real world, people, place, and material.

Therefore Mahavira's entire teaching and his vows relates to ease pains, sorrow, and suffering. An individual can remove his/her sin by following these teachings.