Studies in Jainism

SR No.: 006565
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture Culcutta
Publisher: Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture Culcutta
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 182
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 11 MB

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STUDIES IN JAINISM
non-violence is not practical, even then we cannot challenge its relevance for human society. Though Jainism sets as its goal the ideal of total non-violence, external as well as internal, the realization of this ideal in practical life is by no means easy. Non-violence is a spiritual ideal which is fully realizable only on the spiritual plane. The real life of an individual is a physico-spiritual complex; at this level complete non-violence is not possible. A person can proceed towards the fullness of non-violent life only when he rises above the physical level.
All human beings have an equal right to lead a peaceful life. Though violence is unavoidable, yet it cannot be the guiding principle of our lives, because it goes against the judgement of our faculty of reasoning and the concept of natural law. If I think that nobody has any right to take my life, then on the ground of the same reasoning I also have no right to take another's life. The principle of equality propounds that everyone has a right to live. The directive principle of living is not 'Living on others' or 'Living by killing,' but 'Living with others' or 'Living for others'.
Though in our world complete non-violence is not possible, yet our motto should be 'Lesser killing is better living'.
Further we must be aware of the fact that in Jainism non-violence is not merely a negative concept, i.e. not to kill; but it has a positive side also, as service to mankind. Once a question was put to Mahāvīra, ‘O Lord, one person is rendering his services to the needy persons, while the other is offering puja to you; among these two, who is the real follower of yours?' Mahāvīra answered, 'The first one is the real follower of mine, because he is following my teachings.'
Though violence in some form or other is inevitable in our life, yet on this basis we cannot conclude that nonviolence is not necessary at all. Just as violence is inevitable for living, non-violence is also inevitable for social living. As far as the existence of human society is concerned, it depends on mutual co-operation, sacrifice of self-interest for the sake of fellow-beings, and regard for others' life. If the above