Introducing Jainism

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

Page 73

INTRODUCING JAINISM
‘One should not permit the killing of living beings; then he will perhaps be delivered from all misery; thus have spoken the preceptors who have proclaimed the Law of ascetics.
savvāhim anujuttihim matimam padilehiyā/ savve akkanta-dukkhā ya ao savve na himsayā//
[Sūtr. I. 11.9) 'A wise man should study them with all means of philosophical research. All beings hate pain; therefore one should not kill them.'
eyam khu nāņiņo sāramjam na hiņsai kimcana/ ahimsā samayam ceva eyāvantam viyānīyā//
[Sūtra. I. 11.10) "This is the quintessence of wisdom: not to kill anything. Know this to be the legitimate conclusion from the principle of reciprocity with regard to non-killing.'
From these above passages of ahimsā we must not get this idea that Mahāvira has asked the people to renounce the world. It will be a great mistake if we think so. In all his teachings he wants to emphasize that we must not be goaded by the passions and impulses of himsā, But, to all intents and purposes, we must control our mind to allow us to grow stronger mentally, so that our life can become serene, pure and holy. This does not mean that we should not enjoy life to its fullest extent, but that enjoyment should not be of a beastly type, but of a divine nature. It must not transgress the purity and serenity of life and of dharma. It should be noted that the basic idea of ahimsā is not to control the outward events of one's life, but to control the inward temper in which he faces these events. So the practice of ahimsā will teach us how to preserve a purely inward integrity and balance of mind, and how to conquer the word from a world both hostile and intractable.
(ii) Ahimsā in Buddhism
It must be noted in this connection that Buddha has also preached the doctrine of ahimsā. In the Suttanipāta and in the Dhammapada kindness towards all beings (mettā),