Perspectives in Jaina Philosophy and Culture

Author(s): Satish Jain, Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Ahimsa International

Page 96

Non-Violence: Religions and Common Sense
Dr Z. P Thundy
It is flippant to argue that human beings, having descended from the simians, are by nature violent homo homim lupus (man is a wolf unto man) and that natural selection or survival of the fittest is the law of life for individuals, societies, and races Such an extreme view can lead to genocide, which has happened not only in Nazı Germany but also in most parts of the world It is this conception of man that has formulated the law of tooth-for-tooth and eye-for-eye It is this view that spawns seeds of violence and thrives on blood-feud This philosophy creates an unending cycle of violence not only in the human family but also in the animal world through the scorch-earth policy that warring nations follow This view based on distrust not only would justify a war fought in defence but also a "just" war of aggression based on the principle of get-them-before-they-get-us)
The antithesis of violence is non-violence which is preached by all the great religions and religious masters but broken by their followers All religions in principle abhor violence and promote peace This is true of Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Christianity For instance, Jesus says “Resist not evil, if anyone smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate" (Matthew 5 39-44) Similarly, Jainism preaches the noblest form of non-violence)
In fact the genuine teaching of the great master is the golden rule or the middle road The extreme forms of asceticism are all right only for exceptional individuals liks the Mahavira, the Buddha, the Baptist, and Jesus Christ The masters, as a rule, preach the avoidance of extremes in the practice of worship and Ahimsa Jesus would say ,'do unto others what you would others do unto you For this is the Law and the prophets" (Matt 7 12), "I did not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them” (Matt 5 17) Jesus, like the great Buddha, was kind, understanding, and forgiving Warmth, understanding, and compassion are the hallmarks of genuine religion The Acaranga Sutra of the Jaida canon reads "A wise man should be neither glad nor angry, for he should know and consider the happiness of all things
Life is dear to the many who own