Jaina Mysticism and Other Essays

Author(s): Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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serious consequences in spite of perpetrating gross acts of Himsā.25 Thirdly, it is amazing that, in spite of the two persons following the same course of Himsā, divergence at the time of fruition may be exhibited on account of the differences in their states of mind and intensity of passions.26 Fourthly, though Hirsā may be committed by one, yet consequences may be suffered by many. Similarly, though it may be committed by many, the consequences may be suffered by one. 27 From all these we may conclude that the point of reference in judging the acts of Himsā and Ahimsā is the internal state of mind.
Reconciliation between Social Ahiṁsā and Spiritual Ahimsā : From the discussion of Social Ahimsā and Spiritual Ahimsa, it follows that the Social Ahimsā has outward reference and spiritual Ahirsā has inward reference and the disparity between the outward and the inward is overcome through emphasis on inward reference. The danger is that this may lead to antisocial activities by presenting the support of spiritual Ahiṁsā working through inward reference. One may conceitedly argue that it is no use renouncing the performance of certain actions, but that the internal mind alone ought to be uncontaminated. But it is to be borne in mind that in lower stages, which exceedingly fall short of selfrealisation, the external performance of a man has no meaning without his being internally disposed to do so. Hence the external and the internal influence each other; and in most cases the internal precedes the external. Thus, in no case, the outward commission of Himsā, without the presence of internal corruption can be vindicated. He who exclusively emphasizes the internal at the expense of the external forgets the significance of outward behaviour.28 He loses sight of the fact that the impiousness of external actions necessarily leads to the pollution of the internal mind, thus disfiguring both the aspects, namely, the internal and the external. In consequence, both the internal and external aspects should occupy their due places.
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Jaina Mysticism and other essays