Concept of Pancasila in Indian Thaought

Author(s): Kamla Jain
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

Page 89

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The Concept of Pancasila in Indian Thought
is said again, “If you desire to do something pleasing to me, and then desist from hunting for ever, the poor beasts of the forest, being dull of intellect, are worthy of pity for this very reason."1 Not only in Buddhism but in all the Indian religions man is regarded as solely akin to animals (though man is highly evolved). Therefore compassion to animals is equally necessary. On the other hand, Christianity regards man as the centre of creation as being set apart from all other creations as God's special favourite for whose sake everything else was brought into existence. This laid the foundation for placing the animals outside those on whom sympathy can be bestowed. Buddhism on the other hand promulgates, “Let him not destroy or cause to be destroyed any life at all or sanction the acts of those, who do so. Let him refrain even from hurting any creature, both those that are strong and those that tremble in the world."2
These are the few extracts which tend to show the importance of non-violence, which is based on equality of all creatures in Buddhism, not in the sense of mere abstinence from injury but also in the sense of feeling of love for all living creatures small or large. "Not only do we find in Buddhism the concept of ahimsā as a mere negative or abortive principle indicating the avoidance of the vain destruction of animal life but it also regards that it is the duty of every Buddhist to care for the well-being of all animals."9
In the feeling of love, as has been maintained earlier, lies the positive aspect of non-violence. The reasons for this negative nomenclature have already been shown and the same holds good in Buddhism also. A purely negative precept 1. EfT ETTETATOEHT Haffaqafgquafi
- Jātakamāla, Maitribala Jātaka, 60. 2. पाणं न हाणे न च घातये, न चानुजा हनन परेसं । सब्बेसु भूतेसु निधाय दण्डं ये थावरा ये च तसन्ति लोके ।
--S. N. Dhammikasutta, 19. 3. Essence of Buddhism : P. L. Narasu, p. 52.