Jain Journal 2000 04

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

Page 11

SEKHAR: "GIVE AWAY VIOLENCE, PRESERVE LIFE"
It may look irrational and unjust to think how these senseless beings are led to violent deeds. But the Jaina spiritual masters say that with regard to the six types of living beings, from earth-bodied (one sensed) to human beings (with the internal organ as the sixth sense), Soul or Jiva is the same. It is this self due to wrong belief (mithyadṛṣṭi) that commits sin of violence or does cruelty to other creatures. 26
Buddhist tradition pays greater attention to the intention of the doer. It posits five necessary conditions in the crime of killing: the knowledge that life exists, the assurance that a living being is present, the intention to take life, some actions must take place and some movements towards that action, the life must actually be taken.27
4. Justification of violence to the self
4.1. Self-suffering, Self-mortification, self-purification, selfrestraint in religion
There are debates whether one is allowed to take one's life in the process of saving oneself or others. In other words, how are selfmortification, self-persecution and the like are justified? Can a person harm himself/herself or others to safeguard one's own interests?
We see in the Brāhmaṇic tradition the sacrifice of animals, birds, etc. in order to obtain wealth and prosperity to the owner of the sacrifice or the yajamāna. Sacrifice of these birds and animals were justified by stating that the victims will enjoy a better status in the life to come.28 L.C. Burman argues against this contention saying that the same soul works in all and it is sinful to kill any kind of animal at any time and at any place: Śruti does not set down injunctions to kill. Self-protection is the aim of every creature and Atman has no narrow domains. It is all and everywhere.29 It is this sacrificial attitude of the Brāhmaṇas that led Hemacandra to call the Law of Manu as 'himsā śāstra' or the Law of Violence.30 The Jaina Ācāryas, particularly Amṛtacandra and Amitagati, maintain absolute Ahimsa and preach that it is wrong to kill even destructive animals.3 31
26. 27.
167
31.
Ibid., 2.4.3.
Narada Thera, A Manual of Buddhism, A text book of Buddhism for the SSC, The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon, Colombo, 1951, p. 81. Purusārthasiddhyupāya, 79-89, Amṛtacandra, Sacred Books of the Jainas, Vol. 4, P.S.V. Ed. Ajit Prasada, The Central Jain Publishing House, Lucknow, 1933.