Jain Journal 1999 07

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

Page 54

JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXXIV, No. 1 July 1999
In more simple and direct terms, one cannot visualise a world full of violence or without non-violence. Indeed in spite of age-long emphasis on non-violence, love and kindness by all spiritual leaders, the world is still not a fully peaceful place to live in. Can you imagine the prospects of a world where only violence prevails? That is the rule of the jungle. There are some who hold the view that life survives by destroying life jivo jivasya bhojanam, but what is forgotten is that life survives more with the help of life. It is the mutual help, love, kindness and compassion shown by one living being for another that makes the world a fit place to live in. Non-violence is, therefore, a practical necessity in the world to-day.
Nature of Violence
Violence is caused by injuring vitalities (prāņa), by reackless or passionate activity. There are in all ten vitalities (prāna) with which living beings are blessed, the number depending upon the evolution of soul due to its past karmas. There are five sense organs (touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing), respiration, life duration, energy or body, organ of speech and mind. The number of vitalities vary from class to class, i.e., one sensed being have only 4 vitalities while the five sensed beings have ten vitalities. In the same manner, the quantum of violence involved in causing pain or injury to different classes of creatures also vary. Thus the infringement of non-violence and defilement of soul is greater in killing an animal than in cutting a tree.
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Violence is caused by passions and carelessness. Lord Mahāvīra said, "Anger, conceit, deceit and greed are four powerful enemies which stimulate sinful deeds. One who desires his well-being should renounce these four faults" (Daśavaikālika-sūtra 8.37). The activities (Yoga) are of three types....activity of mind, speech and body. Thus we observe that violence is any activity caused by carelessness and which results in injuring any of the ten vitalities of living beings. Abjuring such activity is observation of non-violences. Let us examine four situations of conduct of a person.
1. There is no carelessness and also no injury to vitalities of a living being.
2. There is no carelessness but there is injury to vitalities of a living being.
3. There is carelessness but no injury to vitalities.
4. There is carelessness as well as injury to vitalities.
The first situation is a perfect example of non-violence as there is neither negligence nor passion nor injury. The second example is also