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The Jains through Time
not only violence to the body but also violence to the mind. In losing their independence people lose their mental and spiritual autonomy, and slavery erodes their inner worth, leaving them like zombies. The religion, traditions and culture of those countries that have lost their independence degenerate swiftly and become like a rotting corpse.
The Pandavas under the leadership of Shri Krishna go to war, but only to regain what is rightfully theirs. On the opposing side, Duryodhan is fighting too but only to gobble up the Pandavas' inheritance. When you ponder on these epic events, you yourself will be able to judge who was right or who was wrong. As I have said before, sometimes the external act of physical violence (dravya-himsa) takes place, but the internal intention of violence (bhav-himsa) may not be there at all. In fact bhav-himsa, the intention of violence, is at the root of violence. In the context of bhav-himsa alone we have to see whether or not the small acts of violence, carried out to prevent bigger acts of violence, are really necessary. Sometimes in life certain situations arise when violence is unavoidable, so it becomes obligatory to commit some smaller acts of violence to combat injustice, irreligious acts and atrocious deeds.
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Mahatma Gandhi took the path of nonviolent resistance in the struggle for Indian independence but sometimes the oppressor is so cruel and barbaric that this path is of no use at all. Those whose armies slaughter innocent children, rape defenceless women, burn village after village and heap up mountains of skulls are worse than rabid animals. To oppose them with non-violent resistance is pure folly. The question is, what is the appropriate way of combatting such barbarism? From the viewpoint of nonviolence, what should be done? Should we take up arms or find some other way? In this situation defence is no offence; it is the only proper course to take, as shown by the example of Kunik and Raja Chetak. Such a
Violence is not only violence to someone's body, mental cruelty is also a significant act of violence. Consider a nation enslaved and a people put under an alien yoke - here, it is
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