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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision
one yoni (existence) today; it may be in another yoni tomorrow. It may be a fly today and a man tomorrow. This being so, man has no right to harm non-human living beings even. One should behave sympathetically with all-friends as well as enemies. Such is the importance of Ahimsa in Jain philosophy. तुंगं न मंदराओ, आगासाओ किसालयं नत्थि । जह तह जयंमि जाणसु, घम्ममहिंसासमं नत्थि ।।
[Nothing is higher than the Meru Mountain; nothing is vaster than the sky. Similarly, there is no religion as good as Ahimsa.]
Another great vow is truth. I will not practise untruth, I will not make someone practise untruth and I will not help someone practising untruth. It is said in Prashnavyakarana that truth is God. It is said in Acharanga Sutra that the wise person, who obeys truth, conquers death. The human heart experiences truth. Mahavira's life was governed by experience which was the fruit of his own austerity. That is why he says if we ought to believe in his word, it is not because he is omniscient; every soul can attain that status if it practises true austerity - this is his preaching. Bhagwan Mahavira himself could attain the status of Tirthankara only after his austerity of the previous 27 bhavas (modes of existence) followed by his penance of twelve and a half years. So, he preached that we should be always watchful and abstain from untruth. He, who tells a lie, is never trusted. You should be careful to see that you do not speak untruth. One should speak things which are free from shortenings, and speak only when necessary. Harsh language should be avoided. Regarding a nirgrantha (monk), he said, "The nirgrantha will speak thoughtfully because if he speaks unthoughtfully, untruth may be spoken. He will abandon
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