ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 203

B.1.3.1.1
Ahirsā/Non-violence Dr. Shugan C. Jain
Definition: In an unprecedented way Mahāvīra clarified Non-violence in Ācārārga as "none of the living beings ought to be killed or deprived of life, ought to be ordered or ruled, ought to be enslaved or possessed, ought to be distressed or afflicted and ought to be put to unrest or disquiet. Thus the Ācārānga conclusively pronounces that after understanding the importance of kindness to beings, the enlightened person should preach, disseminate and applaud it at all places in East-West and North-South directions. He further said, 'That which you consider destroying or disciplining or harming or subjugating or killing is (like) yourself. The results of your actions have to be borne by you, so do not destroy anything'.
To further explain his doctrine of non violence, he classified the living beings in two primary classes' i.e. pure soul and impure soul. Further the impure souls, called sāṁsārī-jīvas, were classified into six subtypes according to the body they can have. These are:
1. Sthavara or immobile living beings i.e. living beings which cannot move on their own to
achieve their objectives; e.g. like air, water, fire, earth and plant bodied. 2. Trasa or mobile living beings i.e. those which can move on their own to achieve their
objective. The living beings under this category can have two to five types of sense organs e.g. from ants, animals, birds on to human beings etc.
Thus non violence includes not only human beings but also sub human, the basic elements like air, water, earth, fire and plant bodied living beings as well. Samantabhadra had rightly called Mahāvīra's doctrine of non violence as supremely beneficial to all living beings (Sarvodaya Tirtha) and the total nonviolence of all living beings as Liberation / Moksa also.
1 Savve pāņa na hamtavā, ņa aijāvetavva, na ajjāvetavā, na parighettavva, na paritāveyavva, na uddveyavvā Ayaro, 1.2.3.63 32, Jaina Vishva Bharati, Ladnun 2 Dayaṁ logassa jänitta pāiņam padiņam, dāhinań udiņas aikkhe vihae kit te vedav) Ācāranga-sūtra, 196, Agama Prakashana Samiti, Beawer. 3 Yuktyānusāsana by Samantabhadra-61. O Lord your Tirtha is all inclusive, is based on relativity of viewpoints and the eliminator of all pains. Hence it is The Sarvodaya or the Creed for the enlightenment of all.
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0