________________
Ahimsa-A Psychological Study ५३६
We should also note that the ultimate end of the practice of ahimsa is not merely to save other souls but in a positive sense to save our own souls. Self-culture is the main problem in the practice of ahimsa. In the Sütrakṛtänga it is said that if a person causes violence out of greed or if he supports such violence of others, he increases the enemies of his own soul. In the Acărăngasutra we are asked to consider ourselves in the position of the persons or animals to whom we want to cause injury. Gandhiji said, 'I believe in loving my ememies. I believe in the power of suffering to melt the stoniest heart.'
Ahimsa is kindness, it is beneficial to the soul for its realisation of perfection. In ahimsā there is the force of the soul and in himsä there is the expression of our animal-nature. Ahimsa is beneficial to all, to the persons who practise ahimsa and to those who are saved by ahimsa. Ahimsa destroys all anxiety; disorder and cowardice. It can overcome and defeat the most cruel brute force. Gandhiji has shown this by the Satyagraha movement against the mighty British empire. Zimmer says, 'Gandhiji's Satyagraha is the battle waged in the collosal modern scale and according to the principles from the textbooks not of the Royal Military college, but of Brahman.'
Jain Education International
The sun of Ahimsa (non-violence) carries all the hosts of darkness, such as hatred, anger, malice before himself. Ahimsa in education shines clear and far and can no more be hidden even as the sun cannot be hidden by any means.
-Mahatma Gandhi
For Private & Personal Use Only
کہ سمسم
www.jainelibrary.org
