Jain Journal 1999 07

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

Page 51

RELEVANCE OF NON-VIOLENCE IN MODERN LIFE
DULI CHAND JAIN The image of Jaina community as persons of peace and goodwill and committed to vegetarianism is strongly imprinted on the Indian mind. Mahātmā Gāndhi, perhaps, the greatest champion of nonviolence in our age, said that he had been deeply influenced by nonviolence as a political instrument, by the revered Jaina scholar Raichandbhai Mehta through intimate personal contact. To abstain from violence is the foundational vow of Jainism from which follow the other vows....to abstrain from falsehood, theft, continence and possessiveness. Great importance has been given to non-violence by every Indian school of thought, but none have carried it to the extreme as the Jains have done. However, the concept of Ahimsā, which is the supreme Dharma ahimsā paramo dharmaḥ has not been properly understood and there are many misgivings about it.
What is meant by "Ahimsā”? Generally it is taken to mean nonharming or non-violence to any living creature, but really speaking it is an attitude by which a person identifies himself with all living beings. Ahimsā is equanimity. It is the holy law of compassion in body, mind and spirit. The term "Ahimsā” has both a negative and a positive connotation. It is generally understood by its negative reference, i.e. refraining from causing any injury or harm towards any one. However, positively it has a very sublime and profound aspect and it stands for the practice of love towards all beings.
Aim of Human Life
Lord Mahāvīra says “Dharma (righteousness) is supremely auspicious. Non-violence, self-restraint and austerity are its essential features. Even the celestials revere him who is rooted in Dharma". (Daśavaikālika-sūtra 1.1)
The aim of human life is to achieve Nirvāna or liberation. How to achieve this? Ācārya Umāsvāti (writer of Tattvārtha-sūtra, the hand book of Jainism) says that it can be achieved by right faith, right knowledge and right conduct together.
Jainism takes an integral view of life. Only faith or knowledge or conduct alone cannot take us to the path of Nirvana. We should have faith, knowledge and conduct as well. Without right faith, there cannot