( Story told by Swami Vivekananda )
Once a thief broke into the house of a man of this non-killing type. The boys of the house caught hold of the thief and were giving him a sound beating. The master hearing a great row came out on the upper balcony and after making inquiries shouted out, ‘Cease from beating, my boys. Don’t beat him. Non-injury is the highest virtue.’ The fraternity of junior non-killers stopped beating and asked the master what they were to do with the thief.
The master ordered, ‘Put him in a bag, and throw him into water.’ The thief, much obliged at this humane dispensation, with folded hands said, ‘Oh! How great is the master’s compassion!’