Jainism the Creed for All Times

Author(s): D S Baya
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 83

in any violent activity bodily, vocally or mentally; 4-6. Not asking anybody else to indulge in any violent activity bodily, vocally or mentally; 7-9. Not approving of anybody's indulgence in any violent activity bodily, vocally or mentally. It is only a sad corollary to this noble and rigorous prescription of non-violence by the Jaina Prophets that even there the violence (towards fine creatures of the one sensed static living beings) practised in the construction of temples and prayer-halls, idol-worshipping, pilgrimage, etc has been condoned, thus taking the edge off from their criticism of the violence in performing the rituals by the Hindus and the followers of the other faiths.
The Basis Of Non-violence -
Various philosophers have advanced various grounds that promoted non-violence. Some said that the fear of counter violence prompted the weaker sections of humanity to follow the path of reconciliation and consequent non-violence. However, there are not many that subscribe to this misplaced view-point. If this were so, one would be non-violent only towards the strong and not towards the weak. The concept of non-violence towards the weakest of the weak is the non-violence of the strong and brave and not that of the weak and the cowardly. Others - liberal Hinduism and Lords Buddha and Mahāvīra advanced more logical explanations. The Jaina thought placed the concept of non-violence on a sound psychological footings. "All livingbeings love life, none wishes to die or suffer", it says. "Therefore, we must not kill or torment the others as we would not like to be killed or tormented ourselves", it proceeds to round the argument. According to this thought, this psychological truth and not fear or any such negative instinct is the basis of non-violence. Buddhism preached equality of life in all forms and so, no one might kill anyone. The Gītā also says that one ought to treat the others as one's equals and treat them with kindness and compassion. This shows that the real bases of non-violence are AHIMSA (NON-VIOLENCE): 55