Bhagvana Mahavira

Author(s): Tulsi Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 77

VII
THE RELEVANCE OF THE JAINA RELIGION
TO MODERN PROBLEMS
Ahińså and Freedom from Passion
Bhagavān Mahāvīra did not look at truth only from a single point of view. It does not mean that he did not look from one point of view, because it is necessary also to look from one particular point of view. But while doing so, it should be kept in mind that there are other points of view also. When Bhagavān Mahāvīra viewed the truth from the perspective of its result, he said, "The basic problem is that of violence.” Looking at it from the point of view of its origin, he said, “The basic problem is that of the passions (kaşayas)." Kaşāya means a tainted consciousness and a tainted mind. Mind tainted with attachment is filled with the emotion of love whereas one tainted with aversion is filled with hatred. Love, in its turn, produces avarice. Avaricious mind becomes deceitful, lustful and possessive. Mind tainted with aversion takes pride in riches, caste, power, beauty etc. Egotistic mind becomes prone to anger and hatred. It feeds the fire of quarrel.
Attachment is the mother of avarice and deceit, while aversion generates egotism and anger. Anger, egotism, deceit and avarice give birth to all kinds of problems. Bhagavān Mahāvīra realized this truth and practised the sādhanā (practice) of freedom from passions through spiritual discipline. It is said that non-violence is the supreme dharma and that it is Bhagavān Mahāvīra's great contribution to humanity. This is a truth, but the truth behind this truth is that freedom from passions is the supreme dharma. This,