Introduction to Jaina Sadhna

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 88

Relevance of Jaina Sadhana: 81
self-contradictory. The principle of equality propounds that every one has the right to live. The directive principle of living is not 'Living on others' or 'Living by killing' but 'Living with others' or 'Live for others' ( parasparopagrahojivānām, Tattvārthasutra, 5/21). In our world complete non-violence is not possible, yet our motto should be 'lesser killing is better living'.
Further we must be aware of the fact that in Jainism non-violence is not merely a negative concept, i.e., not to kill; but it has positive side also as service to mankind. Once a question was raised to Mahavira: "O Lord, one person is rendering his services to the needy persons while other is offering pūjā to you, between these two, who is the real follower of yours!" Mahavira answered, "First one is the real follower of mine, because he is following my teachings" ( Āvaśyakavṛtti, pp. 661662).
Though, inspite of all precautions violence is inevitable in our life, yet on this basis we can not conclude that the nonviolence is not necessary at all. Just as violence is inevitable for living, non-violence is also inevitable for social living. So far as the existence of human society is concerned it depends on mutual co-operation, sacrifice of our interest for the sake of our fellow-beings and regard for others life. If above mentioned elements are essential for our social life, how can we say that non-violence is not necessary for human life. Society exists not on violence but non-violence, not on fulfilment of self-interest but sacrifice of self-interest, not on claiming for our own rights but accepting the rights of others as our duty. Thus we can say that the non-violence is an inevitable principle of the existence for human society. At present we are living in an age of nuclear weapons and due to this the existence of human race is in danger. It is only the firm faith in observance of non-violence, which can survive the human race. It is mutual credibility and the belief