Bhagavana Mahavira and his Relevance in Modern Times

Author(s): Narendra Bhanavat, Prem Suman Jain, V P Bhatt
Publisher: Akhil Bharat Varshiya Sadhumargi Jain Sangh

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Bhagwan Mahāvtra's Ahiṁsā and World Peace
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connecting compassion towards all living beings. Non-violence consists of purity of thought, word and deed actuated by universal love and compassion.
Jain thinkers have enjoined upon a votary of Ahimsa to get rid of such violent, callous and cruel practices as meat eating, hunting for sport and drinking which make the heart merciless and in fact kill the conscience. The noble ideal of sanctity of life should be honoured without any reservation. If one takes a broader outlook and adopts a benevolent attitude, he will immediately understand the utility of the above ordinance.
If a person fattens his body by the flesh of other animals his adoration of Ahiṁsā is, in fact, hypocritical. The point for serious consideration is, if a thorn which pricks into your foot, makes you uneasy and uncomfortable, would not your bullet-shot or stroke of knife cause indescribable agony to the helpless, miserable and poor victim, who unfortunately is not in a position to describe its pangs ? It is extremely puzzling and surprising to hear tall talk about morality, amity, harmony, fraternity and universal brotherhood from the cultured leaders of modern society, who forget the miseries of the mute animals, whose flesh they enjoy with great taste and satisfaction.
Jain thinkers have strictly laid down that a disciple should at the outset learn the lesson of sanctity of life. He should treat all life as sacred. Those who kill others forget that a time will come when they will have to reap the fruits of their cruel practices. If we sow the seed of a banyan tree how can we get an orange tree ? Likewise, if we nurse violence, cruelty or hatred in our hearts we will not only spread the baneful aura of the evil thought, but it will also give rise to more heinous evil tendencies. If on the other hand we sow the seed of goodwill, sincerity and friendship towards all beings, we are sure to reap a rich harvest of increased goodwill and friendship. The Bible says, “Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it. They have sown the wind and they shall reap the whirlwind.”
Jain thinkers fully understand difficulties which come in the way of the practice of complete non-violence, since life is impossible without destruction of innumerable small insects. The life of a tyrant and a selfish short-sighted person has been condemned. Jain
teachers hold the opinion that the entire moral code must be in