Ahimsa the Science of Peace

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

Page 97

insignificance or launches himself into hyperactivity to prove himself superior by pushing others into insignificance. Both these activities are the result of drifting away from the self or soul.
Once the direction of thoughts is turned towards self, the importance of the individual starts revealing itself. He realizes that as a component of the vast (group, society, country, humanity or nature) he has his own significant contributions towards the vastness. The slightest change in him starts a chain of actions, which eventually push the whole towards progression or regression. It is this realization that imparts a sense of responsibility in the individual and guides him towards constructive activities. If one really wants to understand this vital importance of one so called insignificant individual component, he should look towards the functioning of nuclear weapons. A change in a tiny, individual atom triggers the chain reaction, which turns it into the source of holocaust.
Simple social activities like lying, gossiping, cheating an individual, criticizing for the sake of criticism, succumbing to greed are the starting points of more complex problems. The attitude of directing thoughts towards purity includes erasing these dark spots from the mind and soul.
Human survival and progress depend not only on the extremely acute reasoning powers but also on the balanced interaction of these powers with other mental faculties. The emotional reactions play a very important role in human life. It appears that this emotional competence is the factor that makes us the most adaptable of the species in the animal world.
As compared with any other species we are much more responsive and constructive in our dealings with others. Our AHIMSA: THE SCIENCE OF PEACE 54 For Private & Personal Use Only