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( 25 ) The principle, the truth, the article of faith, is "to live and let live."
When belief in the principle of Ahimsa is truly and firmly established, a Right-believer who has not developed his capacities so as to follow it completely, and to the fullest extent, will yet refrain from causing Himsa as far as possible, while engaged in the usual daily pursuits of his avocation in life. He gives up the commission of Himsa, deliberately, and he is as careful as he possibly can be, in avoiding its commission in the performance of the daily duties of life. He renounces the use of flesh and wine, which cannot be obtained without the commission of Himşa, as food. He would not knowingly and on purpose cause injury to any living being, howsoever low in the scale of vitalities. But a Jain householder, following the discipline of his order, the smaller vows, called Anu-Vratas, may be guilty of Himsa unwittingly, or unavoidably caused, or caused without design or pre-meditation.
So far as a householder is concerned, Himsa is divided, into various kinds. It is either Árambhaja, viz., that which arises from engagements in occupations, in spite of all care and caution, or Anarambhaja otherwise called Samkalpi, viz , that which is committed intentionally or knowingly e. g., hunting, offering sacrifices, killing for food, amusement, or decoration, or out of mischief, enmity, malice, or jealousy.
Intentional Hurting. Samkalpi Himsa is entirely renounced by a householder and may well be avoided by every thinking person, without any injury, harm, or serious inconvenience to himself. If he is placed in circumstances, where he cannot avoid the commission of Himsa, his act would be Himsa all the same, but the degree of culpability would vary with the varying circumstances. Let us take a few cases by way of illustration, and leave the inquisitive disciple, or the thinking scholar to discuss the rest with persons who are their superiors in knowledge and conduct.
There is a festering wound in the body, full of maggots.
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| SR No. | 001105 |
| Book Title | Purusharthsiddhyupay English |
| Original Sutra Author | Amrutchandracharya |
| Author | Ajit Prasad |
| Publisher | ZZZ Unknown |
| Publication Year | 1933 |
| Total Pages | 160 |
| Language | English, Sanskrit |
| Classification | Book_English, Ethics, & Principle |
| File Size | 11 MB |