Ahimsa Crisis You Decide

Author(s): Sulekh C Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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karmas with other souls (jivas) only but not with non-living matter (pudgal). In Jainism, to practice minimum himsa, all sadhus (monks) and sadhvis (nuns) take five great vows, called mahavratas. Similarly, all lay people are advised and supposed to take five small vows, called anuvaratas, plus seven additional vratas (siksha vratas) for a total of twelve vows. In theory, both mahavratas and anuvratras are the same except a difference in the emphasis on practice of ahimsa. These five vows are: ahimsa (nonviolence), satya (not telling lies), aprigraha (non-possession and non-attachment), achorya (not stealing) and brahamcharya (celibacy). If we look closely at these five vows, we will see that ahimsa is the core of each and also the most fundamental and pivotal vow. The other four are sub-categories and are hence subordinate to the first vow in the practice of ahimsa. Ahimsa is the means—like a boat—to crossing the ocean of samsara. Without the utmost practice of ahimsa, one cannot get rid of accumulated karmas; in fact, one cannot even stop the inflow of new karmas. The other four vows are like the engine, oars, or sails helping the boat move, propelling its progress across the ocean.
FIVE MAHAVRATAS (ESSENTIAL VOWS)
AHIMSA (NON—VIOLENCE) This is pivotal and basis of all activities
SATYA (TRUTH)
ACHORYA/ASTEYAL APARIGRAHA (NON-STEALING) || (NON-ATTACHMENT)
BRAHAMCHARYA
(CELIBACY)
THE FIVE ESSENTIAL VOWS THAT BRING ABOUT AHIMSA (NON-VIOLENCE) For Jains, the guiding slogan and motto is "ahimsa parmodharama,” which means that ahimsa is the supreme religion, that is, there is no greater religion than ahimsa. The following famous aphorism from Jain scriptures sums it all:
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An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide