________________
That is – Kindness is dharma; nature of things is dharma; forgiveness, etc., constitute ten-way dharma; Tri-gem (Ratnatraya) – right vision, right knowledge and right conduct – is dharma and to protect the living beings is dharma.
Thus, mercy and charity have been clearly enumerated as dharma. It is proven by the aphorisms like “So dhammo jattha dayā' and ‘Dāņam ..... dhammo', etc. Kindness is dharma because it is the basic nature of the living beings – “karuņāe jīvasahāvassa l', and basic nature of anything is its dharma. Compassion and affection are also manifestations of dharma because compassion is an attribute of right vision and right vision, as a part of "Tri-gem' has been said to be dharma - 'Rayaņattayam ca dhammo'. Friendship is dharma because friendship is closely connected with forgiveness and forgiveness has been included in ten-way dharma - ‘Khamādibhāvo dasaviho dhammo'. Protecting and saving the living beings has also been said to be dharma - Tivāņam rakkhaṇam dhammo'. Like this, all the dimensions that give expression to positive non-violence have been included among various definitions of dharma. Therefore, on the basis of scriptural proofs and indirect proofs by inference it is very well proven that positive non-violence is dharma. Anyone who leads his life in accordance with positive non-violence constantly feels that he is overcoming his flaws and faults and attaining gradual purification. From this point of view, even though direct proof, positive non-violence is proved to be dharma.
The general public considers the auspicious activities like mercy, charity, etc., as dharma but some who believe in intellectual jugglery advance the argument that the activity oriented auspiciousness like kindness, protection, affection, service, etc., being the cause of karmic bondage, result in worldly transmigration and, thus, they hinder liberation and cannot be accepted as dharma. According to them dharma is in abstinence only. However, this view is neither in according to the canonical teachings nor is it logical. In what follows, this viewpoint is being examined in greater detail.
104
Positive Non-Violence
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
