ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

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

Page 402

regularly.
1
Adi pur na: Bharat Bahubali dual;
2 Ramayana: Killing of individual/s
3
Mahabharat: Killing of a family/s.
4
1965-75: Community or countries affected
5 1980s-: The entire world getting affected.
The advent of technology has enhanced significantly the impact and method of committing his. We see its impact in the deaths of Nehruji (sickness), Sanjay Gandhi in plane crash, Indira Gandhi was murdered in her own protected home and Rajiv Gandhi was murdered by suicide attackers. India (claim to be peaceful nation) spends enormous amount to protect its leaders and suffer losses due to terrorism and violence alone. In our present day world also, we can see that use of force to win a war or eliminate discord or differences in religious-political ideologies results in escalation of violence causing more miseries than reducing them (Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Indo-Pak troubles etc.). Some facts about his are given below:
I.
II.
III.
His affects the doer i.e. hi saka more than the hi sya (the victim). So even for our own selfish gains we must observe non-violence. We can see enhanced cruelty in our thinking, anger and uneasiness all through our body and mind causing stress and associated problems. Once committed, the hi sya starts getting ready to take revenge and hence the hi saka has to be involved in amassing more violent tools and devices and becomes more and more engrossed in hi sa. Terrorism in various forms is the result of violence committed by the state or the ones who are powerful.
Ecology: Killing the five types of living beings i.e. those with air or water or fire or earth or plant as their bodies, is called environment pollution. Even killing animals and other living beings cause natural / ecological imbalances.
Social ills: Girl child killing in the womb, use of cosmetics and leather products from unborn and newly born animals, foods causing thousands of living beings getting killed for just one meal, class system dividing the society in low caste, middle casts or high castes etc on the basis of birth, race or colour are different ways of committing violence. Growing intolerance, selfishness are some of the social ills caused by enhanced his
We thus see that violence affects individuals /societies / countries and the whole humanity resulting in total destruction. Violence has assumed ghastly dimensions with the advent of technology and hence necessitating the adoption of an Ahi saka or non-killing society and the whole world.
3.0 Practicing Ahi s
Jain resources for exploration of potentials for non-killing societies are abundant. At the core are spiritual, philosophical, scientific, social and other aspects of Jain thought and practice that can be and are being creatively adapted to promote non-killing conditions of 21st century life all over the world'.
3.1
Spiritual practice of Ahi s
Ahi s in Jainism is primarily for self (internal which is eliminating or avoiding attachment and aversion) as well as for others (not giving pain to others). Causing pain to one's own self is even his and is to be avoided. Jains say the attachment is the root cause of transmigration and all pains associated. As Jain path of spiritual purification is called the science of detachment, so internal Ahi s can be equated to equanimity or detachment; the fundamental requirement of eliminating attachment. It can be termed as having no attraction even towards one's body or to have equal attachment with every living being. Actually internal Ahis is not possible without developing equanimity to all. In Jain terminology, the internal Ahi s is from transcendental viewpoint while the external is from practical viewpoint. Internal Ahi s i.e. total abstinence from his is practiced by ascetics as they withdraw themselves completely from worldly indulgences and spend all their time for spiritual beneficiation.
For the ascetics the essential duties are (S m yika or State of equanimity of the self, Caturvi atistva or reciting the virtues of the 24 tirtha karas: Vand n or veneration of the holy
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0