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upon others, such injury as would appear undesirable to us, if inflicted upon ourselves." (Yogašāstra )
This 18 the reason why most Hindus, especially the Jains and the Buddhists, would refrain from taking any filesh for their food The Jainas would even refrain from taking fresh vegetables, because they are living, and to hurt any living thing is in Jainism a daily sin They go even so far as to driok only boiled water of the ascetics of the Sthāpakavāsı Jaida sect even breathe with a cloth across therr mouth to avoid insects and unseen Jivas' inbabiting the air. They would also sweep their path lest they may tread on insects. According to the Jains, under the law of Ahimsä, killing of vermin is also, forbidden, so that asylums have been established for decrepit animals rather than that they sould be put out of their misery by the destruction of life
People may think that the way which the Jains preach and follow is rather impracticable and therefore unreasonable. This is wrong potron. It may be impracticable but is not absolutely unreasonable. It is impracticable because humanity bas not yet progressed enough. When humanity has suffi ciently developed and reached a certain higher stage, this law of Ahimsa should be and could be follored by all
From what has been said above we can have an outline of the spirit of Ahimsa in Sino-Indian Culture, The facts related and the possages quoted re only those which came readily to my mind and were easily available. Similar facts and passages of the same kind are too numerous in Chinese and Indian literature and scriptures to be quoted in full. It is even difficult to make the best adequate selection of them These facts and passages were not merely religious ideals or ethical principles but actual and real events in history. Looking over the histories of India and China, from the very beginning to the present day, these two countries have never attacked or 101 aded any other country, never exploited any other people, though they hare often been attacked, invaded and exploited by other warlıke peoples. But those tho invaded India and China Tere often assimilated and absorbed by Indian and Chinese cultures, and have enjoyed with the Indian and Chinese people their pational wealth and harmony of life.
It has been therefore my firm belief, and also my humble mi58100, that na Chinese and Indians, the two greatest peoples of the world, should cul. curally join together and single together to create, to establish and to promote a common culture, called Sino-Indian Culture, entirely based on Ahimsã By creating, catsblishing and promoting this common Sino-Indian culture, tre shall further create, establish and promote a common torld culture on the same basis. By creating, establishing and promoting a common World Culture, we shall crcate and establish a great union of the world, And by creating and establishing a great Union of the World, we shall lead the world to cal and permancat peace, love, harmony and happiness
| SR No. | 010530 |
| Book Title | Mahavira Smruti Granth Part 01 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Kamtaprasad Jain, Others |
| Publisher | Mahavir Jain Society Agra |
| Publication Year | |
| Total Pages | 363 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Classification | Smruti_Granth |
| File Size | 9 MB |