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Jain Society of Greater Detroit
PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAV ASHADH 4-12 V.S. 2054
When - with the vision of relativity of thinking, anekantavada - the wells of other-ness are dropped, we then see the sacred beauty of life in others. We do not see that person as a man or woman from a certain sect or religion. All these obstructions are removed. We see life beyond the barriers and we see life in others. We see them with eyes of amity and do not speak violenth. Some say, "My religion is the best. And if you don't start practicing my religion, you will go to hell." Such dogmatism and bigotry of violence will not persist when we practice anekantavada or ahimsa. This practice opens our heart to understand what others are saying, what they are conveying, what they are feeling, and what their conditioning is. We listen beyond their words. We may not agree but we respect their right to say.
So, one thing must be clear: all the spiritual and religious practices and vision of ahimsa, academic knowledge, and the means of living must be for the soul's realization and evolution. Things are for the soul. Soul is not for things. Soul knows matter; matter does not know what is soul. Just as the sun illuminates the earth but the earth does not illumine the sun. In this heightened self-awareness, we have a deeper realization of our inherent qualities. Self-knowledge is a frame of reference to know one and all. So, we have to know that practice and knowledge are for the soul's evolution and liberation from bondage.
Vardhman Mahavir set a living example of practicing ahimsa, and anekantavada, aparigraha and samayika darshan. Removing shackles of bondage in the dynamics of meditation and practice, he illumined this soul with enlightenment.
Ahimsa in Introspection
To many people, ahimsa tends to be understood only as "Don't do" this or that to animals and living beings. This is one meaning but it is secondary. The first meaning is: "Don't hurt yourself” with jealous, hate, and resentment.
Ahimsa is a subtle thing. It cannot be grasped unless we go deep into ourselves and get in touch with our self. To achieve this, we meditate. There, we discover the sacred beauty of life. Until we have this experience, we may use the word "abimsa", but it will only be lip service, not from experience. Through the practice of abimsa, the veil of ignorance about oneself is removed. This deep experience of life opens a new dimension of our inner world. When ahimsa is practiced in vision of inner perspective, we perceive the relevancy of al life in meaningful inter-relationships among all living beings, leading to understanding even the nature of supreme soul: Parmatma.
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