Book Title: ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01
Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
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and significance of motives in conduct. Self-control, charity and compassion established as virtues. Meat eating denounced. Ahimsā paramodharmaḥ or non violence is the supreme austerity concept in Mahābhārata Around 550BC 24th Jain ford-maker Mahāvīra established the concepts of soul, karma and assigns responsibility for actions and results to individuals. Under his guidance, Jainism emphasized Ahimsā to its extreme form whereby the entire Jain religion, its philosophy and ethics are based on Non-violence only. Around 500-300 B.C, influenced by Mahāvīra and Buddha, Patanjali called Non-violence as supreme virtue and de-emphasized yajñas. He said Non-violence is unconditional and universally applicable.4
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The above shows briefly the evolution of non violence in India. Jainism is credited of being the main propounding religion of non violence in its subtlest from. We shall therefore discuss non violence here with main focus on its discussion and implementation in Jainism.
1.2 Definition of Non-violence. In an unprecedented way Mahāvīra clarified Non-violence. In Ācārānga he says, "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 Āyāro (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. Thus Non-violence is defined as:
Knowingly or unknowingly not causing pain or killing of any living being by activities of mind, body or speech; or not asking others to do so or not to admire or support those who do so is Non-violence'.
He further designated Social Non-violence as compassion, kindness, security, solitariness,
3 Mahābhārata, Adiparva, verse 11.13 * Ahrsā pratisthāyaḥ tatsannidhau vairatyāgah, Patañjali Yoga-Sutra 2/35 5 savve pāņa na hamtavā, na ajjā vetavva, na parighettavvā, na paritāveyavvă, na uddveyavvā, Ācārārga Sūtra, 1/4/2/23 (Agama Prakashana Samiti, Beawer) from Paper by Prof K.C.Sogani 6 Dayan logassa jāņitta pāiņań padiņań, dāhinań udiņań aikkhe vihae kitte vedav) Ācāranga Sūtra, 196, (Agama Prakashana Samiti, Beawer) from Paper by Prof K.C.Sogani
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0
