________________
dealing with non-animosity.
In Samskrt language, too, the word 'mitra' consists of the root ‘mid snehe', which means affectionate. Thus, friendship has been depicted as a positive concept and not as lack of animosity alone. From this point of view, if we wish to practice Non-violence or Ahimsa, it becomes necessary for us to help and serve others.
Besides the Jaina tradition, in other Śramanic traditions, too, the positive meaning of Non-violence or Ahimsa has been accepted. Especially, the concept of mahākaruņā (great compassion) has been mentioned repeatedly in Mahayana Buddhism. There, compassion has been made the root of the faith. According to this tradition, Lord Buddha goes to the extent of saying, “I do not desire liberation, so that I may be here in this world and spread the gospel of kindness and compassion. The word ‘metti' meaning friendship also has great significance in the Buddhist tradition.
Service can be said to be the practical side of friendship. In service, besides forgoing violence, freedom from fear is also granted. In the Jaina canonical lore, the giving of freedom from fear has been hailed as the best form of charity - Dāņāņa settham abhayappyāṇam'. Only a compassionate person can free a creature from fear, and grant it the gift of life and protection. Generally, such feelings do not rise in the heart of a cruel and brutal or heartless person. The altruistic person has a generous heart. He engages himself in mitigating the troubles of others in disregard of his own pleasure and pain. Forgetting his own troubles and discomforts, he is ever ready to partake of others' sorrows.
Bhagvān Mahāvīra has said --
“Kim Bhante! jo gilāņain padiyarai se dhanne udāhu je tumam damsaņeņa padivajjai?”
"Goyama! je gilāņam padiyarai |” Se keņattheņam Bhante! evam vuccai?”
Goyama! Je gilāņam padiyarai se mam daṁsaņeņa padivajjai | Je main darnsaņeņa padivajjai se gilāņain padiyarai tti | Āņākaraņasārai khu Arahantāņain damsaņai | Goyama! evaṁ vuccai - "Je
Publisher's Note
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
