________________
Development & Impact of Jainism in India & Abroad
system of thought In Jainism non-violence is a religion and not merely a part of religion. In Jain text.
It is explicitly mentioned "Every living being wants to live. Sorrow and killing are not liked by any living being. All beings love their life". This implicitly establishes that all beings have the right to live. Another Jain text says, Non-violence is for the welfare of all beings.?
Violence aggravates enmity whereas non violence promotes friendship.3 Further 'Non-violence is the shelter for the terror stricken.“
The basis of Jain concept of non-violence is reverence for life. Non-violence is the virtue which asks us to respect all forms of life. The quintessence of Lord Mahavira's teachings is that Religion sustains the world. Non-violence, self restraint and penance are constituents of Religion's
"Tirrthankaras have recognized non-violence as duty knowing the suffering of all beings." 6.
Lord Mahavira has said "To kill or hurt any living being amounts to killing or hurting oneself. Compassion to others is compassion to one's own self".?
Man should live in harmony with all beings and nature. Hence, the relevance of Jain concept of non-violence which can bring in adaptability in modern life-style and may help us change the attitude of people in today's world of consumerism hedonism and terrorism. Non-violence can be broadly interpreted to mean "harmlessness". Non-violence need not be regarded as a passive attitude. To emphasize its spiritual dimension let us understand its implications: Spiritual law expresses itself through the activities of life.
1. Non-violence is the primary, chief and principal vow and all other rules of conduct - non-stealing, truth, chastity or self restraint and limitation of possession are derived from non-violence
1. Non-violence is the principle of interdependence- All Soul are bound together by mutual support and interdependence which is the principle of modern ecology: 8
2. Thus non-violence is the principle for ecological harmony par excellence. It may be compared with Deep Ecology.
3. Non-violence is the basic value in jainism this ethical value has been extended to fauna and flora, to Animal protection etc.
4. It is tolerance necessary for resolving conflicts. It can be applied as a creed on a mass scale in the field of politics. Kautilya also believed that policy should be based on religion.
5. Non-violence implies vegetarianism, which is supported today by the science of medicine. Food affects mind body and soul.
The rationale behind the principle of non-violence is the equality of all living beings. Lord Mahavira says, "Not to kill any living being is the quintessence of all wisdom. Certainly, one has to understand that non-violence and equality of all living beings are
56
