________________
destroyed. After this, one should decide which activities are essential and which are merely for enjoyment, comforts, or other extraneous purposes. One should reduce these avoidable activities.
d. This mainly includes the discipline related to environment.
Every member of society should have awareness of these points and freedom to decide where to start and how to proceed. The accomplished should set examples for others to follow and be available to provide guidance. Platforms for the exchange of ideas and experiences should be created. For the ahimsa way of life to be effective as an instrument of peace, we should understand that an Ahimsa attitude has to be inculcated and nurtured to the extant that it becomes second nature (Samskaars).
The heaps of taxonomical details worked out by Jain scholars of the past are evidence of the fact that all Jain practices were split into levels of competence. There is a place even for the ignorant at the lowest level. Such a person could start his practices depending on his capability and progress at any desired pace. As the laity is an intrinsic part of the religious organization of Jains, the practices begin at social level and smoothly merge with the ascetic level. It appears that, with the passage of time, the rigid system of austerities designed for ascetics cast a shadow over the flexible system designed for the laity and made it difficult to follow.
It is not that the ahimsak way of life has to be forced. The act of forcing is against ahimsa. It has to be presented in a way that is acceptable and attractive. There should be incentives for those who are reluctant. Mind you, these incentives cannot be effective for a long period if they are alien to
AHIMSA: THE SCIENCE OF PEACE 157
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
