Jain Center Los Angeles CA 1988 07 Jain Bhavan Inauguration

Author(s): Jain Center So CA Los Angeles
Publisher: USA Jain Center Southern California

Page 14

NON-VIOLENCE
Rupali Jogani
Violence can be divided into two main parts. One is PHYSICALLY afflicted upon someone or something. The other is the MENTAL torment that one could impart.
to kill him." This proves that the state of mind we are having (even if only temporary) is very violent. Although we do not really have any intention of actually killing anyone, the thoughts are greater tan our actions. We should try to think all good things, especially when we are mad. Mental violence can be more harmful than the actual physical violence in
Physical violence is the actual doing to someone or something. For instance, the violence which is brought upon the animals each day to provide meals for the non-vegetarian person is a horrible doing. Aside from being a Jain, we should encourage ev- eryone to become vegetarian just out of the love and compassion for these helpless animals.
Jain scriptural teachings show us that we should have clean minds about everything. In order to accomplish this, many people do meditation for days and others practice the yoga. These are only two of the many ways in which people can cleanse their minds and purify the process of thinking.
Physical violence also includes a desire to return evil for another evil. If someone were to hit you, should you hit him back? No! Two wrongs do not made one right. Why hit him back? He has not taken anything from you. In fact, he has given you something! This is how Mahatma Gandhi freed India from British rule - with this type of thinking and philosophy of non-violence.
If we control both our PHYSICAL and MENTAL violence, then we are able to practice the proper NON-VIOLENCE that Lord Mahavir has taught us for attaining salvation.
The studies and knowledge that Gandhi had about non-violence, had been obtained from Lord Mahavir's teachings. It helped him accomplish his goals without violence. Like Gandhi, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. also applied the principles of non- violence and achieved civil rights goals in the USA.
This presentation by Rupali, 14 year old daughter of Girish and Sheila Jogani of Diamond Bar, CA., won second prize at the Celebration of PARYUSHAN, Jain Center of Southern California, 1985. It has been edited for publication.
This brings us to the notion of mental violence. Many persons get very angry with someone and often say in their minds or even out loud,"I'm going
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