Ahimsa the Science of Peace

Author(s): Surendra Bothra
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 20

AUTHOR'S NOTE
(from first edition)
It was mere coincidence that nudged me to start working on this book. During a general discussion about some forthcoming publications of Prakrit Bharti, Shri D.R. Mehta expressed his concern about the dearth of books on Jainism directed at the modern citizen. His observation was quite correct; most of the books available are either blindly traditional or too scholastic in style to appeal to modern man. He wondered if I could do such a book, or a series, especially on the Jain codes of conduct for the citizen. I couldn't but say yes, and here is the outcome of my first attempt.
I started with the idea of dealing with the Anuvrats (minor vows) in modern context. The research gradually made me shift towards Ahimsa, which is the most important of the five vows of Jains, and without which all the other vows lose their value. The Jain thinkers have developed the concept of Ahimsa in a unique and comprehensive way. Mahavir and his followers elaborated Ahimsa in such detail that it became universally applicable.
Ahimsa should not be considered just a part of Jainism or Buddhism or for that matter any particular religion. Its importance lies in accepting it as a universal concept, around which almost every religion has developed a variety of ideas, in many directions and useful to humanity in many ways. It is so fundamental that it is part of nature itself.
It is my earnest request to my readers that they try to understand, ponder over, and apply the philosophy of Ahimsa to their own individual life as a component of their own
AHIMSA: THE SCIENCE OF PEACE