Glory Of Jainism

SR No.: 269278
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Total Pages: 39
Language: English
Classification: Article
File Size: 6 MB

Page 36

- 35 - expounded by Lord Jina. We must, therefore, obey the first law of rule, the law of non-violence and non-injury to all our animal brethern who are also entitled by their own right to live as subordinate citizens of our country. As the senior brother, man must show full sympathy to all our helpless and voiceless neighbours of the sub-human world. It may not be out of place to mention here with a pardonable pride that Mahatma Gandhi was given the mighty weapon of Ahimsa by a Jaina Saint in orderto fight his battles for Indian freedom without shedding blood, a fact which the Mahatma has acknowledged in his autobiography. Therefore, the entire credit for winning Indian freedom through the weapon of Ahimsa should go to the Jaina teacher who initiated Gandhiji into the holy order of Ahimsa warriors. Ahimsa is the fountain head of all the philosophical systems and also the central concept of all world religions, but to give practical shape to its potentialities in our muindane life congenial to our surroundings circumstances, different stages and gradations, me thodical means and ways have been formulated and directed so accurately that a person of an unprejudiced, unbiased and enlightened mind would never remain without reaping its benefits and making life happy, peaceful and prosperous. In this connection, the Jaina thinkers have prescribed a via media or a la dder of evolution for moulding human character to its highest pinnacle of purity and nobility and have explained convincingly the different human traits, their origin and development in the making of a human being. In technical terms, this character-making-la dder of evolution is called the Gunasthanas which consist of fourteen parts or steps. There is a ,.36.