ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

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

Page 404

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those derived from animal kingdom.
Minimize abuse of environment by not disturbing fauna and flora or causing emission of pollutants in the air /water.
In order to avoid and reduce his, we have to keep in mind the three deterring forces to his namely:
Avoiding business or professional activities involving harming /injuring or killing living beings.
3.2
Understanding others viewpoints before creating conflicts. Try finding solutions through dialogue before using force to impose solution.
Expression of his by body is deterred or punished by the government or legal system. Expression of his by speech is deterred by the society. If we utter any unpleasant words, we immediately get a reprimand from the society. The government can hardly do anything. Expression of his by mind is deterred only by you i.e. the individual only because it hurts the individual the most. Therefore Jain scriptures lay emphasizes mental purity the most. In the judicial system, the law awards severe punishment for pre planned or intentional crimes and at times let the accused be free if it is accidental or just circumstantial. Thus the most important method is to develop control on ourselves to be ahi saka.
Scientific practice of Ahi s?
Unprecedented self-understanding of not killing human capabilities is becoming possible from bioneuroscience to every field of knowledge. Scientific knowledge of the causes of killing, the causes of non-killing, the causes of transition between killing and non-killing, and of the characteristics of completely killing-free societies can assist human liberation from lethality and practicing the ethical postulates of Ahi s.
Similarly the contribution of science in ecology and its various conservancy policies and practices are a direct corollary to Mah v ra's definition of Ahi s and living beings (specially his unique emphasis on one sensed living beings). Plants have life by Sir J.C. Basu, global warming, self rejuvenating nature of air/water from certain levels of pollution are all based on the concept of such resources as similar to being organic in nature or as living beings and supporting the practice of ethical postulates of Ahi s.
3.4
Social practice of Ahi s
Lord Mah vra designates social Ahis by sixty four synonyms such as kindness (day), security (raks), salutariness (kall a), fearlessness (abhaya), non-killer (am dh ), equanimity (samat ), forgiveness (kşam) and so on by sixty four different names.' this is the basis of social Ahi s as per Jains. On closer analysis, we find almost all other religions in the world emphasize these which are mere applications of social Ahi s. Live and let live slogan of Jains is based on equality of all living beings to live and enjoy the fruits of their actions. Sharing our wealth, helping the destitute in particular and others in general are the applications of Ahi s. Jains are known for their philanthropic activities associated with establishing institutions like school, orphanages, homes of destitute, hospitals and other health services. 12 practicing these sixty four applications of Ahi s will result in a peaceful and friendly society.
In our own life time, we see Mahatma Gandhi implementing Saty graha based on the application of Ahi s to free India from the mighty British Empire. Martin Luther King and Neilson Mandela in USA and South Africa are other popular leaders who practiced Ahi s propagated by Mahatma Gandhi to successfully fight for their oppressed communities.
Vegetarian diet can be seen as another example of practicing social Ahi s which takes the benefit not only to us vegetarians but to others as well (like the animal kingdom, ecology, economics and in the reduction of cruel activities rampant in the society) 13. In recent times we find the number of people switching over to vegetarian diet is exponentially increasing based on their educated choices. Similarly reciting and contemplating on prayers like Meri Bh van by Jugal Kishore and locan P tha
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0