Jinamanjari 2002 04 No 25

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 66

violence. This is a natural phenomenon, a pure biological reaction, which further complicates matters. The instinctive feeling of a natural and need-based aggression is thoughtfully converted into glorified, legalized murder in name of religion, communalism, racialism etc. The manipulators of human mind, through propaganda, propagate that violence and brute strength are the best means of settling disputes. That is why the followers of a religion which preaches peace and love, become so cruel, violent and terrorists in the name of their religion and god. It can never be jihad, crusade or dharmayuddha -- it is only adharmayuddha.
More and more people all over the world are realizing that the answer to present problem of violence is to be found in a morality, which replaces ravenous greed with contentment, hate with tolerance and killing with reverence for life. There are many eminent scientists, intellectuals and religious leaders, who are talking in this positive language. Awareness of these dangers of violence is growing in the laymen also.
Ahimsa conduct, if made a part of the educational process, can be the most effective step towards this goal. Ahimsa should not be considered just a part of Jainism. Although it appears to be an original concept of the Jains, it is also a message for the world.
The nation of India and the followers of the Jaina creed everywhere are observing epical 2600" Birth Day Celebration of Lord Mahavira as the "year of non-violence.” His contribution to the original concepts of nonviolence of his predecessors may be seen in his doctrines of relativity of the truth, and the metaphysics of ahimsa, which over centuries after centuries, have been dealt and developed by the later Jaina philosophers, into an all-comprehending universal applicability..
According to Jaina ahimsa doctrine, violence is described as the presence of evil thoughts, feelings or attitude. It does not necessarily depend solely on the act of killing. Within the framework of violence, it can be explained that violent thoughts are created by kasāya (the terminology in Prākrit language standing for passions) which are of four types – anger, conceit, illusion and greed. The attitude of diverting thoughts from impure to pure is the most important and central factor of ahimsa. It covers every facet of the activity of