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Chapter 7 - Sutra 8
201
There is a mechanism of harming. Therefore, the result is such that the violence committed through the intentional killing of living beings is considered harm.
Q—Taking life from any being or causing pain to anyone is indeed violence. These aspects of violence are the most well-known and widely recognized among Hindus; however, why have they been included in this discussions of intentionality?
Until the concept and principles of high moral conduct had not been introduced into human society up to Ujjain, there was no significant distinction in daily life between society and living beings. Just like animals and birds, human beings in such societies too instinctively understand that taking life is necessary for survival or that beings take life even without necessity. In this initial stage of violent behavior in human society, when an individual becomes aware of the nature of violence in his thoughts, he begins to condemn existing violence as a fault of killing and preaches against taking life. On one hand, there are the old sentiments towards the practice of violence, and on the other hand, the emergence of a new sentiment of non-violence; these two create a conflict, leading to several questions arising against the violent inclination. Three questions arise that stand before it:
1. While the advocates of non-violence do indeed lead a life, can that life sustain without some form of violence? If it cannot, can the violence committed in that regard be considered a fault?
2. Mistakes and...