Non Violence A Way Of Life

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

Page 21

Brahmin or Shoodra, man or woman, young or old - whoever makes efforts can attain liberation. It was in order to justify this that he made Chandanbala his first nun. He helped man overcome the dependence on fate and on the grace of God. He preached that man should make efforts and said, "However great a god may be and however good his heaven may be, if man shows his humanity even a god bows at his feet. That is why man should insist on truth and love. It is by his deeds, his virtues and his efforts that man can be great. For this, birth, family and caste are of little use."
Mahavir saw that celibacy is something greater than the vow of possessionlessness. Celibacy is not only an external function of accepting or abandoning external objects; it is essentially spiritual restraint. Similarly, penitence is the only way of severing the bonds of karma. Thus he established the overwhelming importance of penance in life. Thus
d man from mental slavery. He valued man's own effort above fate. He expounded that active efforts are preferable to dry erudition. Fighting against age-old customs and blind faith Mahavir proved the importance of freedom of thought. He fearlessly accepted what he thought to be true.
Like the monk, the householder has his own duties to perform. He said, "It is a false belief that the monk
alone should practise religion and the householder can enjoy himself. Like the monk, the householder should practise religion. While the monk should thoroughly and strictly observe vows, the householder should observe vows as far as he can. Thus there are five great vows for the monk and five small vows and seven shikshauratas (vows of penitence) for the householder. If a person observes these vows he would be triumphant. Don't kill beasts for sacrificial rites. Don't conceal scriptures. Don't hate the enemy."
Bhagwan Mahavir showed that the differences of creeds and sects are subsidiary and every creed has relative truth. He preached that man should never cause, harm to anyone. He gave the doctrine of anekantavada to promote tolerance in thought. He taught syadvada to promote harmless speech. He showed the importance of possessionlessness in society. He said,
“घम्मो मंगलमुक्किठें, अहिंसा संजमो तवो ।
देवा वि तं नमसंति जस्स घम्मे सया मणो।।" (Religion is superemely auspicious. Non-violence, self-control and austerity are its characteristics. Even gods bow down to him who always rejoices in religion.)
Bhagwan prescribed some rules for attaining the salvation of the soul. These rules are vows. There are five great vows.
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