International Jain Conference 1985 3rd Conference

Author(s): Satish Jain, Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Ahimsa International

Page 116

The Positive Content in the Concept of Non-Violence
Dr. M. M. Kothari
All religions prescribe certain dos and don'ts which constitute the positive and negative aspects of their ethical base. The injunctions to act in certain matters in certain definite ways are to be scrupulously adhered to in the conduct of their followers. However, more important than the dos are the don'ts. Doing things which are forbidden is sinful. This invites punishment at cosmic level here or hereafter.
The doctrine of non-violence, which has a very important place in some religions, particularly Jainism, contains a number of such don'ts. The critics have often dubbed it as a negative doctrine, a mere bundle of don'ts, lacking in positive content.
Etymologically considered, non-violence means the negation of violence. Thus, so far as the form of the concept is concerned, it is apparently a doctrine of negative injunctions. In order to understand what is non-violence, we have first to be quite clear as to what constitutes violence, so that non-violence would mean all that is the negation of what we mean by violence. If people differ in their understanding of what constitutes violence, they are bound to differ in their notions of what constitutes non-violence. And this would in turn affect their theory and practice of non-violence.
The doctrine of non-violence can be found in some form or the other in every religion. But nowhere has it assumed a form given to it in Jainism. In its most comprehensive sense which Jainism has given, violence means the causing of death, injury, pain, suffering or sorrow to any living being by thought, word or deed, and non-violence means the negation of all such acts.
Jainism, from its very inception, proclaimed that life (Jiva or soul) exists even at micro-levels, in infinitesimally small organisms invisible to the naked eye as well as in the larger vegetable, animal and human organisms. We are surrounded by billions of such Jivas and every action that causes injury to any Jiva is returned to the person who inflicts that injury.