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Ahimsă Dharma (The Religion of Non-Violence)
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people's minds. So, if we want to make further progress, Ahimsă should be a dynamic foundation of our life and the concept of Ahimsā should permeate through all the spheres of life including social, commercial and political because world peace can only be achieved through Ahiṁsā.
We must also realise that violence, cruelty, destruction and the great amount of suffering that we cause are the symptoms of a deep rooted malady at the core. The remedy, therefore, consists in effecting a radical inner change through introspection and meditation.
Education for Non-Violence
Education can play a vital role in spreading the message of Ahimsā to the most impressionable young minds that are going to shape the destiny of mankind. Right now a lot of violence is taught through history books, the media and even through toys and children are being trained in wrong ideas of prowess and heroism. The purpose of education is to train the human mind to strive for a life based on equanimity, modesty and respect for every one. The existing education system concentrates all its resources on bringing about external development and there is very little effort to train the mind and the spirit. If we give mental and spiritual progress its due place in education, Ahiṁsāwill almost be a form of reflex behaviour which will ensure the emergence of a new man and a new world. Ahimsā has the potential to transform the present world into a beneficent world and therefore if certainly deserves to be acclaimed as a global religion of the future.
Let us all pray that the Almighty blesses us with the capacity to follow this supreme religion so that the dream of a new world may be realized.
References 1. Daśavaikālika Sūtra, Editor Shri Amarchandra Ji Maharaj,
Rajabahadur Lala Sukhdeo Sahai Jwala Prasad Jain Jauhari, Mahendra Garh, Patiyala, V.S. 1989, 1/6.
Tattvārtha sūtra, Editor Pt. SukhalalSanghavi, P.V. Research Institute,
Varanasi, 1985, 1/8. 3. Byhatkalpabhāsya (part III) Editor, Chatur Vijaya / Punyavijaya,
Shri Atmanand Jaina Sabha, Bhavanagar, 1933, 4584.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
| SR No. | 014010 |
| Book Title | Jainism in a Global Perspective - Collection of Jain papers of 1993 Parliament of World Religions, Chicago |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Sagarmal Jain, Shreeprakash Pandey |
| Publisher | Parshwanath Vidyapith |
| Publication Year | 1998 |
| Total Pages | 402 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Seminar & Articles |
| File Size | 23 MB |