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All of us let them breed. Jains do that and so do I, a Vaishnava. ------ - - The Poet used to say at times: "Had Jainism not fallen into the hands of those who are called Jains, it would have filled the world with marvel at its truths. The Vanias [Community traditionally engaged in trade and commerce. Most Jains belong to this community.] Bring discredit on the truths of Jainism. They scatter corn over ant-hills. If any preparation of potato chances to get into their mouth, they feel pricks of conscience. In such small matters, they are ever punctilious. They are welcome to be so, but those who imagine that this is the height of Jainism really stand on the lowest level of dharma. That level is for the fallen, not for the pure in heart.” Many Jains, therefore, say that Rajchandra knew nothing about dharma, that he was a hypocrite and an egotist. I know, however, that he had not a trace of hypocrisy and egotism.
Though it is true that bugs and other insects should not be killed, that is not all that the spirit of compassion means. That is only the first step. During some past age, the belief must have come to prevail that there was no sin in destroying insects to save human life. A sage may have then arisen who must have laid stress on protection of insects and proclaimed: "O fool! Do not destroy insects for preserving the transient body. Pray fervently, rather, that it may perish today rather than tomorrow." From this sentiment arose ahimsa.
But the man who beats his wife or child, though he shrinks from killing a tiny bug, is not a Jain, nor a Hindu, nor a Vaishnava. He is a cipher. On this sacred day of the Poet's anniversary, let us give up the narrow meaning of compassion and interpret the word in the broadest sense. It is a sin to hurt the feelings of a single person or to regard him as an enemy. Anyone who wants to see General Dyer hanged, or Sir Michael O'Dwyer burnt alive, is neither a Jain, nor a Vaishnava, nor a Hindu. He is nobody and nothing. The very essence of ahimsa lies in burning our anger and in cleansing the soul. Who am I to judge General Dyer? I know that I am myself full of ill will. How many persons I may be murdering in my mind! What right have I to judge General Dyer? I have, therefore, resolved not to retaliate if anyone attacks me with a sword. This is the path of compassion and the underlying principle of the non-co-operation movement.
Gandhi & Jainism
Pg. 303
