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Osho on Was Mahavira's restraint due to fear of violence or an upsurge of nonviolence and compassion?

Was Mahavira's restraint due to fear of violence or an upsurge of nonviolence and compassion?

True nonviolence arises not from fear, but from a deep well of compassion; act from love, not from the shackles of self-interest.

— Osho
Synthesized from Source definition
Core Insight:
According to Osho, Mahavira’s restraint sprang from an upsurge of nonviolence and compassion—not fear. Seeing that death is unreal, he simply refused to be a source of pain. Many followers imitate the behavior but from fear of sin, karmic bookkeeping, and self-interest. The decisive difference is the inner motive; act from love, not fear.
Mahavira avoided harming because his heart overflowed with kindness, not because he was scared; what matters is why you act, not just what you do.
Why this matters practically
- Helps you choose actions from compassion instead of anxiety or guilt.
- Brings immediate joy and clarity, rather than chasing future rewards.
- Trains inner discernment to align motives with love.
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