Journey Of Ahimsa

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaibhikkhu Sahitya Trust

Page 27

outlook, desire to exploit and establish hegemony are the chief causes of one nation attacking another nation. If these are removed, then the question of invading another country will not arise.
REPORTER
If a nation is at all attacked, it has the right to defend itself and has to decide to what extent non-violence will be desirable. But a nation that believes in non-violence should not indulge in wholesale violence to defend itself and see to it that minimum of human lives are lost; and that there is no mass killing. At the time of the last world war, Gandhi had issued direction as to how to deal with the aggressor countries. It is a duty to defend one's own country but there must be a limit to what extent one should go to defend oneself. The destruction of another country should not be, in any case, the intention, said Gandhi. It is clear that he had a clear vision of what warring countries should do and his views on non-violence, even during war or conflict are clear-cut.
Gandhi also advocated practicing non-violence at the individual level as well as in social and family life. Lets' not harm even the tiniest creature, he
A Journey of Ahimsa
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