Lessons of Ahimsa and Anekanta for Contemporary Life

Author(s): Tara Sethia
Publisher: California State Polytechnic University Pomona

Page 28

Kim Skoog, “Jaina Response to Terrorism”
Pacifism acknowledges the aggression but does not respond in-kind, rather it seeks a non-aggressive and nonviolent response. The pacifist responses must be distinguished from "no response”—e.g., denial of aggression, uncontested acquiescence to aggressor, “cowardly” fleeing from danger. Pacifism can arise on a personal or institutional level, and be applied universally or only to specific cases. However, all expressions of pacificism are driven by a spiritual and/or moral commitment and the character of reply is always nonviolent response: diplomatic, noncooperation, demonstration, etc. Jaina Response to Terrorism
The questions central to this paper are: How a tradition like Jainism is to cope with an unjust and vicious social phenomenon such as terrorism? What is the proper role of Jaina philosophy or theology in helping one to be faithful both to the ultimate goal of liberation and to the inherent themes of compassion and nonviolence that are the very basis of the Jaina tradition itself?
There are two ways that one can go about constructing a Jaina response to terrorism. One can model a response based on historical episodes where an aggressor has threatened a Jaina community and observe how the clergy and/or lay Jaina people sought a solution. Or, one can formulate a "theoretical” response based on Jaina philosophical and religious tenets. Given the space limitations of this paper, I will focus on the latter approach, giving only brief reference to historical facts when helpful.
Emphasis on the principle of ahimsā in the Jaina tradition is well known. However, the lay Jainas realize that it is impossible to live a life totally in accordance with the principle of nonviolence. Historically, the Jaina community cannot be always
purpose is to inflict punishment for wrongs committed by a state that inflicted damage on another state and refused to admit or compensate for the transgression. Perhaps the only principle that avoids scrutiny and disagreement is the Principle of Proportionality within the Just War camp.
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