Peace Religious Harmony and Solution of World Problems from Jaina Prespective

SR No.: 001657
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 70
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Social
File Size: 4 MB

Page 64

i.e. without vitiating our equanimity, the real nature of ourself. It is the attachment and hatred which make violence possible., In the state of equanimity i.e. non-attachment and non-hatred commission of violence is an impossibility. Thus, passions necessarily lead to the violence of our ownself as well as to otherselves. Ācārya Amrtacandra in his famous work Purūsārtha-siddhyupāya mentions "The absence of attachment and other passions is non-violence, while presence of these is violence. This is the essence of Jaina scriptures. There will be no violence even if vitalities are injured when a person is not moved by any kind of passions and is careful in his activity. But if one acts carelessly moved by the influence of passions, there is certainly a violence whether a living being is killed or not. Because a passionate person first injures his ownself through the self. It does not matter whether there is subsequently an injury is caused to another being or not."25 The will to injure and act of injuring, both constitute violence, but of these two, first is more vital,so far as the principle of bondage is concerned. Thus, in Jainism every activity of mind, body and speech infatuated with passions and carelessness is called violence and absense of violence is non-violence.
Positive aspect of Non-violence
Further, we must be aware of the fact that in Jainism non-violence is not merely a negative concepti.e. not to kill; but it has positive meaning also as compassion and service to living beings. Once a question was asked to Mahāvīra 'O Lord, one person is rendering his services to the needy persons while other is offering pūjāto you, of these two who is your real follower. Mahāvīra answered 'first one is the real follower of mine, because he is following my teaching 26
Non-violence and War
Just as peace and non-violence are synonyms so are the war and violence. There can be no war without violence. One who is engaged in war is definitely engaged in violence. Though agressive and unjust wars have been condemned by all the religions yet defensive wars are considered as moral and just. Judiasm, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism all support those wars which are fought fora religious and just cause. Islam considers Jehad as a religious duty. In Hinduism Bhagavadgitā also supports war for the sake of just cause.