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The last one is totally prohibited for Jain votary. The first two types are such that a common man cannot avoid them completely. Based on the classification of living beings, violence against to-five sensed living beings is not allowed while extreme care if to be protected in avoiding violence against one sensed living beings in all their lifestyle and professional activities. The third type is primarily for self-defence and for correcting the violent or wrong tendencies of others and is allowed in a limited manner. Perhaps some wars, like supporting the government of the day in activities conducted against it can be considered as defensive or just wars (like Gandhi's support to British force to World War II). A classical example in Indian history is of Bhamashah, the Jain chief minister of Maharana Pratap who gave everything to his king to fight the mighty Mughals.
The fourth type is completely prohibited as it is simply to satisfy one's ego or interest and committed due to ignorance or wrong knowledge and attachment / aversion. In the judicial system, the law awards severe punishment for pre-planned or intentional crimes and at times even lets the accused free if it is accidental or just circumstantial.
In order to avoid and reduce violence, we have to keep in mind the three deterring forces to Himsa namely: 1 Expression of violence by body is punishable under the
law. Expression of violence by speech is deterred by the
society. 3 Expression of violence by mind is deterred only by you
i.e. the individual because it hurts the individual the most. Therefore Jain scriptures lay emphasis on mental purity and repentance / self criticism the most.
Social Practice of Ahimsa Mahavira designates social Ahimsa by sixty synonyms like tolerance, forgiveness, love, service, liberation, equanimity etc. It is love that sustains the earth. Life without love is death. Ahimsa is nothing but equanimity, universal love or absence of attachment to someone. Ahimsa teaches that we have to behave
Pg.246 Gandhi & Jainism
