Ahimsa Crisis You Decide

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

Page 82

This is the severest kind and highest level of himsa, since all the faculties of the practitioner (mental, verbal, and physical) are fully engaged. The doer of this type of himsa binds to himself anootaanbandhi karmas, which cannot easily be washed away or obliterated (a helpful metaphor is to imaging marking a line in stone or in steel). These kinds of karmas cannot be shed or destroyed by the doer without his suffering the results. Such himsa must not be condoned under any circumstances and must be avoided at all costs.
THE INTENSITY, DEGREES, AND LEVEL OF INFLOW OF KARMAS DUE TO HIMSA Himsa, and hence inflow of karmas, depend upon: • The levels with which the faculties of mind, speech and
physical actions to commit himsa are engaged, • Timing, intention, circumstances, and the • Intensity and duration of engagement of the aforementioned
three faculties in doing the action. Based on the above, the results of action and binding (bandh) of karmas can be of following types: • Like drawing a line in air. This “mark” lasts only a few milliseconds. Here the level of himsa is very low (mostly momentarily and held in one's mind) and its effects can be much reduced or completely eliminated by contemplation, realizing the mistake and expressing repentance, and asking
for forgiveness genuinely. • Like drawing a line in water. Here the effect of himsa may last a little longer but its intensity, results, and the level of inflow of karmas can be reduced by realizing the mistake, taking responsibility, and doing some repentance and
penance. • Like drawing a line in sand. The effect of this himsa is much
An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide