Jainism Eternal and Universal Path for Enlightenment

Author(s): Narendra Bhandari
Publisher: Research Institute of Scientific Secrets from Indian Oriental Scriptures Ahmedabad

Page 119

Jainism : The Eternal and Universal path for Enlightenment
119
everyone else in the world; hence there is more emphasis on the safety of others rather than oneself.
When one conquers one's own self, one attains internal peace but for external peace conquering the world is not essential. The Buddhism and Jainism have the same approach to peace: one need not be a super power with powerful weapons at its disposal to rule the earth. The real super power status is attained, not at the point of gun, but when others willingly share and follow your thought and philosophy. A case in point is Buddhism which started in India but at one stage more than half the world, including China and Tibet to the north, Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia to the east, Afghanistan to the west and Srilanka to the south, besides India followed Buddhism in thought as well as in action without coercion. In oriental thought this is the real mark of a superpower.
Non-violence and forgiveness are the prime requirements for peace. Non violence should be practiced to the extent that you do not hurt any creatures in thought, words and deed and you seek forgiveness in case some one is hurt, knowingly or unknowingly. Most people in the world do not like violence and in this respect they follow Jainism to some extent. Jainism does not permit any form of violence in thought, action or consent and even support of violence for any reason whatsoever even at the cost of the physical safety of oneself or in self defence. Non violence must start at the lowest level of living species and should not be confined only to humans. Vegetarianism is thus basic to Jainism. There is detailed procedure for seeking forgiveness. First one should purify the body by fasting and observing other Tapas, then purify the mind by doing pratikraman and then ask for universal forgiveness as discussed in chapter 6. It can be done on daily or yearly basis. The Jains have earmarked a day every year, called the universal day of forgiveness, for seeking forgiveness. This certainly brings peace and harmony in the family and society. It is hoped that the Jain practices will lead to a peaceful world and bring welfare to one and all.