Ahimsa and Jainism

Author(s): Vijayvallabhsuri
Publisher: Vallabhsuri Smarak Nidhi

Page 28

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in words consists in using harsh expressions; and nental violence implies bearing ill-will towards others. Further, it may be committed, commissioned or consented to. A householder with his manifold social obligations is unable to avoid all these in an ideal manner; still he tries his best to cause the least injury to others.
In view of the complicated character of society and the varied nature of professions, injury is classified under four heads: first, there is accidental injury in digging, pounding, cooking and such other activities essential to daily living; secondly, there is occupational injury, for example, when a soldier fights or an agriculturist tills the land; thirdly, there is defensive injury when one protects one's own or another's life and honour against wild beasts and enemies; and lastly, there is intentional injury when one kills living beings for food or sport. A householder is expected to abstain fully from intentional injury and as far as possible from the rest, it is the intention, or the mental attitude, that matters more than the act. So one has to take the utmost care in keeping one's intentions pure and pious, and abstain from intentional injury. Binding, hitting, mutilating, overloading and starving animals are various forms of injury.