________________
[ 18 ]
Himsa, violence or harm to living beings, is evident in various walks of life: for food, in one's profession, for worship and in the pursuit of pleasures; and the Jain philosophers wanted this to be minimised, if not altogether eliminated, in the case of those who lead a professedly religious and humane life. It is often said that life thrives on life, i.e. some beings live at the cost of others. This is particularly true in the case of animals which live instinctively; but the pattern of living has to be different in the case of man who is rational, purposeful and progressive in his cultural outlook.
The instinct of self-preservation is universal. Every animate being clings to life and fears death. Man, as a rational animal, therefore, must concede to other beings the right to live as much as he wants it for himself. Thus violence to living beings, in any form, has to be avoided; the san. ctity and dignity of life has to be valued above everything else. Ahinisa, though a negative term, has a fund of positive meaning, from simple acts of kindness to a comprehensive outlook of universal fraternity of the entire animate world. In simple language it means the greatest possible kindliness towards all living creatures, and it arises out of the sense of equality of all beings. Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
