Jain Concept of Peace

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Z_Vijyanandsuri_Swargarohan_Shatabdi_Granth_012023.pdf

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one's own or his fellow being or in order to make peace and insure justice in the society (iii) Occupational i.e. violence which takes place in doing agriculture or in running the factories and industries (iv) violence, which is involved in performing the daily routine work of a house holder such as bathing, cooking walking etc. A person can proceed toward of non-violent life to the extent as he rises above the physical level. The first form of violence, which is deliberate, is to be shunned by all, because it relates to our mental proclivity. So far as the thoughts are concerned, a man is his own master, so it is obligatory for all to be non-violent in this sphere. External arcum stances can influence our mind at this level, but they cannot govern us. From the behavioural point of view, deliberate violence is aggressive. It is neither necessary for self-defence nor for the living. So all can avoid it. The other forms of violence i.e. protective and occupational are inevitable so far as man is living on a physical level. But this does not mean that the ideal of non-violence is not practicable and so it is not necessary for human race.
The second form of violence is defensive which takes place in the activity of defence. It becomes necessary for the security of one's own life and the life of his fellow beings and the protection of property. External circumstances may compel a person to resort to be violent or to counter attack in defence of his own life or that of his companions or for the protection of his belongings. All those who are attached to the physical world and have a social obligation to protect other's life and property are unable to dispense with this defensive violence. A person living in family is unable to keep away completely from this type of violence, because he is committed to the security of family members and their belongings. In the same way the persons, who are in government can not get rid of it for they are the custodians of human rights and national property. Prof. Murty also maintains "Aggressive and unjust wars have been condemned by Hindu, Buddhist, and Jaina scripturers and moralists, but they had to admit that defensive and just wars may have to be undertaken without giving up maitri (friendliness) and karuna (compassion) for people of both the
sides". 22
It is true that in our times Gandhi planned a non-violent method of opposition and applied it successfully. But it is not possible for all to oppose non-violently with success. Only a man, who is unattached to his
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Shri Vijyanand Suri Swargarohan Shatabdi Granth