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doctrine and conduct (Samyak Jnana, Darshan, and Charitra); emphasis on one at the expense of others leads to an imbalances result.
Jainism believes in the plurality and equality of living creatures. Since nobody wants to be hurt or killed, the general rule should be that nobody should be hurt or killed. This rule of conduct is not confined only to man but extends even to the smallest of small creatures. It is amazing that more than 2500 years ago, when scientific devices to detect micro-creatures were not available, Mahavir stated that there were small living creatures in wind and water and enjoined his followers to avoid, to that extent possible, their killing as well.
This kind of comprehensive concept of Ahimsa is unknown in the philosophical world. Indeed, Albert Schweitzer, the worldrenowned social worker and noble Laurate while dealing with Jainism in his book Indian Thought and Its Development said — “The laying down of the commandment not to kill and not to damage is one of the greatest events in the spiritual history of mankind... So far as we know it is for the first time clearly expressed by Jainism”.
Jainism also believes that the first steps of Ahimsa would have to be taken at the individual level. Individuals, though their number may be small, would have to truly and sincerely practice Ahimsa in their daily life. With personal commitment to Ahimsa and personal transformation of individual, the real remedy to violence could be found. One of the major problems with many of the protest groups trying to fight against violence at national and international levels is that personally they are not non-violent. One of the reasons why Gandhiji also could not succeed was that a large number of his followers were wanting to be non-violent at the social level but were violent at the personal level.
Ahimsa (non-violence) in general and the Ahimsa way of life as evolved by Jainism in particular is today broadly accepted as an effective anti-dote to ever escalating violence around the globe. However, it has yet to be translated into concerted action from the ongoing academic exchanges. This is not to belittle the value of such discourses and debates but to provide a spurt to these activities with
Ahimsa: The Ultimate Winner
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