________________
Jainism: The Cosmic Vision perform. He said, "It is a false belief that the monk alone should practise religion and the householder can enjoy himself. Like the monk, the householder should practise religion. While the monk should thoroughly and strictly observe vows, the householder should observe vows as far as he can. Thus there are five great vows for the monk and five small vows and seven shikshavratas (vows of penitence) for the householder. If a person observes these vows, he would be triumphant. Don't kill beasts for sacrificial rites. Don't conceal scriptures. Don't hate the enemy."
Bhagwan Mahavira showed that the differences of creeds and sects are subsidiary and every creed has relative truth. He preached that man should never cause, harm to anyone. He gave the doctrine of anekantavada to promote tolerance in thought. He taught syadvada to promote harmless speech. He showed the importance of possessionlessness in society. He said,
घम्मो मंगलमुक्किटं, अहिंसा संजमो तयो ।
देवा वि तं नमसंति जस्स घम्मे सया मणो ।। [Religion is superemely auspicious. Non-violence, self-control and austerity are its characteristics. Even gods bow down to him who always rejoices in religion.]
Bhagwan prescribed some rules for attaining the salvation of the soul. These rules are vows. There are five great vows.
The first great vow is Ahimsa (non-violence). Bhagwan Mahavira said, "If you kill someone, it is yourself you kill. If you dominate someone, it is yourself you dominate. If you torment someone, it is yourself you torment. If you harm someone, it is yourself you harm." A wise man knows this and
130
Non-Violence : A Way of Life so he does not kill, dominate, or torment anyone. Ahimsa is the basis of the Jain Religion. Other religions have adopted Ahimsa, but they have not given it the importance that the jain religion has given. Other religions have not examined Ahimsa so subtly as the jain religion has done.
The concept of Ahimsa has emerged from logical thinking and experience. The concept of Ahimsa has emerged from the doctrine of the equality of all souls. Everyone wants to live; nobody likes to die. Everyone wants happiness; nobody wants unhappiness. The very thought of doing harm produces Karma. So, according to Jain philosophy, himsa and Ahimsa depend upon the doer's thoughts. Where there is pramada (neglectful idleness or sloth) there is always himsa. Untruthful speech and deeds are himsa. To give someone a shock or to be corrupt is also himsa. It is from Ahimsa that truth, non-stealing, celibacy and possessionlessness emerge. Himsa enters first in thought, then in speech and then in deeds. That is why they say that war is born in the hearts of men. The quest for Ahimsa is echoed in anekantavada.
In Jain philosophy Ahimsa is said to be the supreme religion and himsa is considered to be the source of all evils and of all miseries. Mahavira's Ahimsa is not limited only to humankind, it extends to all living beings. It believes in unity of life and regards all living beings to be equal. He, who can be cruel to animals, can be cruel to human beings. Cruelty is not only an aspect of external behaviour, but it is also an inner evil tendency. He, who is cruel at heart, will behave cruelly with animals as well as human beings. He, who is compassionate at heart, will behave compassionately with all. Moreover, the Jain religion believes in the cycle of birth and rebirth. The soul is in
131
