Concept of Pancasila in Indian Thaought

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

Page 96

Non-Violence
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completion of the act of violence. As for example, a person having the intention of killing the animal buys an animal, brings it to his place, treats it badly and tries to injure it with a particular weapon till it dies.
The third stage is called 'mülakarmapatha', i.e. completion of the violent act. The last storke that kills the animal is called mülakarmapatha,' The last among these four stages is the stage known as prstha or the back. The after-effects of mūlakarmapatha constitute this fourth stage. For example the leather of the dead animal and preparing the leather for sale, washing and tanning of the leather, etc., all come under this category. Though the real act of violence ends up only in the stage called 'mūla-karma-patha', the fourth stage of ‘prstha' is still attached to it because the killer (of the animal) does not even dissociate himself from the violent act committed by him. The feelings of hatred etc. for the animals, and desire of making profit out of this act of violence are still there. It is, therefore, regarded as a continuation of the act of violence. This stage has got significance; if for example his mind is still occupied by hatred for the dead animal, he intensifies his act of violence; if on the other hand he repents for this act, he minimises the offence.
These four stages of the act of violence can be, to some extent, compared to Jaina classification of violence as consisting of three stages of samrambha, samārambha and ārambha. These can also be assimilated to the Jaina stages of transgression of the vow of non-violence, viz, atikrama, vyatikrama, aticāra and anācāra. The degrees of offence are often found in the Vinaya as 'dukkața', 'thullaccaya and pārājika' or 'samghādisesa', indicating somewhat similar stages of an offence.
The Precept of the Buddhist Monk
With the background of non-violence in general in both the aspects--positive and negative-the actual precept of the