ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03

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

Page 128

SCHOOL
khāmemi savve jive, savve jive khamantu mel mitti me savva bhūvesu veram majjhaṁ na keņai ||
OF
Prophet Ali fought his enemy for years together. One day fighting in the ground, the enemy fell into his hands. He sat on his chest and was about to pierce him with his spear when the enemy spat on his face. Ali flared up at once, but then recollected himself and said, 'We should not fight today". People said, 'what foolishness is this'? You have got your enemy at your mercy after so many years and your letting him go the opportunity to finish him. Ali said, 'Koran says that do not fight in anger. Ali simply gave up the idea of fighting because he got angry when his enemy spat on his face and remembering the maxim of Koran he decided not to fight.
8 kohavijaye nam khanti jaṇayai, Uttaradhyayana-sutra, IXXX.19 9 Kohena jo na tappadi, sura-nara-tiriehi kiramane vil
uvasagge vi raudde, tassa khamā nimalla hodi// Kartikeyanuprekṣā, 364 10 Avasyaka-sūtra, 4.5
SELF STUDY IS THE SUPREME AUSTERITY
स्वाध्याय
Therefore one should conquer over his anger. When anger is conquered, the spirit of forgiveness springs the soul".
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
राप
Forgiveness, a key to promote friendship
Though man's internal foes are ever ready to push him into mithyātva (vibhāva) but Jaina ācāryas have prescribed effective steps to curb the influences exerted by them. Observance of Forgiveness is one of the powerful which completely wipe out enmity. Scriptures compare this step to an attempt to thread a needle. One cannot try to do this with number of strands of thread held together. To forgive is divine and when a person has this virtue there will be no scope for any ill feeling and on the contrary it promotes friendship. The mind, the pearl and milk have identical nature. Once damaged, the pearl may be re-laid, and even spoilt milk can be used for other purpose but the mind which harbors evil propensities, particularly anger cannot be easily cleaned. It is the forgiveness which can clean those evil propensities. Svāmī Kumāra says that, 'His forbearance is perfect, who does not get excited with anger even when terrible afflictions are caused to him by celestial, human and animals. The Jains pray for cherishing friendship with all living beings:
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