Golden Steps To Salvation

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

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this great truth. Ahimsā or non-violence is the only weapon that can counteract the evils of all destructive weapons. In the matter of non-violence, there is no question of disparity between one nation and the other as in the case of the possession of destructive weapons. Lord Mahāvira has given the following commandment in Achāranga Suthra:
अत्थि सत्थं परेण परं ।
नत्थि असत्थं परेण परं ॥ Atthi sattham parena param
Natthi asattham Parena Parañ. One destructive weapon can be more destructive than the other but there is no non-weapon (ashastra) which is greater than ahiṁsā.
When destructive weapons are used there will be wars and disturbances. There is cruelty in the use of such weapons but no such evil result emerges from the use of non-violence. Non-violence means peace, co-operation and kindness. Nothing, neither a weapon nor a non-weapon is comparable to 'ahimsā.' Think of this peacefully.
Mahatma Gandhi was a famous exponent and examplar of non-violence. When Mahatma Gandhi was thinking of going abroad for higher education his mother according to the advice of a Jain ascetic took from him three promises : (1) That he would not drink liquors; (2) That he would not eat meat and (3) That he would not desire the company of other women. In his autobiography Gandhiji says that he became a lover of non-violence because of the efficacy of these three promises. Gandhiji has given the following lofty principles which constitute the creed of ahimsā: 1. Ahimsā is the other name for religion. 2. The meaning of ahimsā is faith in God.