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## Friend's Perspective: An Examination of Non-Violence
(105) Jain philosophy delves deeply into the subtle nuances of non-violence and defines it as follows:
(1) **Violence** is the taking of life through intentional action (motivated by passion).
(2) **False Speech** is the utterance of untruth, which includes:
* **Contradiction of Truth:** Denying the truth, concealing the truth, or presenting a false version of the truth.
* **Misinterpretation:** Saying one thing while meaning another.
* **Harsh Speech:** Words that are violent, cruel, or abusive, even if they are technically true.
(3) **Theft** is the taking of another's property, even something as small as a blade of grass, with the intention to steal.
(4) **Sexual Misconduct** is the violation of celibacy.
(5) **Attachment** is the clinging to external objects, whether animate or inanimate, through the mind. This is also known as "**Mūchchhā**" (obsession).
The **Vows** are the restraint of the mind, speech, and body from these five forms of violence, false speech, theft, sexual misconduct, and attachment. These vows can be practiced in two ways:
* **Aṇuvrata:** Restraint from specific actions.
* **Mahāvratā:** Restraint from all actions.
Each vow has five levels of intensity.
Those who practice these vows must be free from any form of violence, false speech, theft, sexual misconduct, and attachment, both in their own actions and in their encouragement of others. They must also be free from:
* **Mayaśalya:** Attachment to illusion.
* **Mithyātvashalya:** Attachment to falsehood.
* **Nidānaśalya:** Attachment to the cause of suffering.
They must be free from fear, desire, and prejudice, and must be impartial.
(This is why these vows are called **Samyaktvamūla**, meaning they are rooted in **Samyaktvā** (right conduct). It is only through right conduct that these vows can truly be fulfilled.)
To illustrate the depth of these definitions, let us examine the definition of non-violence:
**"Ghamattayogana Kālacharopam Hiṁsā!" - Tattvārthasūtra**
This means that violence is the taking of life through intentional action. This definition is all-encompassing.
**Pramatta** refers to being influenced by passion, hatred, or other forms of delusion. **Yoga** refers to the actions of the mind, speech, and body. **Prāṇa** refers to the life force, which can be either physical or mental.
The **five senses**, **breathing**, **mental strength**, **verbal strength**, **physical strength**, and **lifespan** are all considered **physical life force**. **Knowledge**, **insight**, **reflection**, and other qualities of the soul are considered **mental life force**.
Therefore, violence is the taking of another's physical or mental life force through the actions of the mind, speech, or body, motivated by delusion.
**Physical violence** is the taking of physical life force, while **mental violence** is the taking of mental life force.