Introducing Jainism

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 70

INTRODUCING JAINISM
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tolerance among the kings where all sorts of religious faiths could live together without any enmity.
The idea of tolerance got also prominence in one of the philosophical treatises of the Jains. In the Tattvärthasūtra of Umāsvāti (between Ist and 5th C., A.D) the line parasparopagraho jīvānam'live and let live shows that every living being should live together without harming each other. This is one of the greatest mottoes in Jainism and this line is also often used as the motto of Jainism. The idea of Umāsvāti is that it is not enough that one should live in this world by hook or by crook, but one should live together without harming anybody. Every living creature, says Mahāvira, has a right to live and it is the duty of human beings to show respect that right of all creatures. Mahāvīra says in the Daśavaikālika sūtra
savve jīvā vi icchamhanti jīvium na marijjium/ tamhā pānivaham ghoram niggamthā vajjayanti ņam//
(I. VI. 10). "All antmals wish to live, and not to be slain; therefore, the Jain monks must relinquish the dangerous killing of animals".
Lastly, a verse from Amitagati (11th cent. A.D) will also prove how the sense of tolerance was prayed for from his lord by Amitagati :
sattveșu maitrim gunişu pramodam klișteșu jiveșu kệpāparatvam/ madhyasthya-bhāvam viparīta-víttau
sadā mamātmā vidadhātu deva// "Lord, may my Ātman ever entertain friendship towards (all) the living beings, rejoicing at (the sight of the virtuous, highest compassion for the suffering souls and an attitude of detachment towards the ill-behaved."
In conclusion it can the said that tolerance in Jainism is well-treated through the principles of non-violence. The path of non-violenee will restrain human beings from doing all sorts of bad works, and, therefore a sort of simoom atmosphere will not prevail all over the society. Human