Positive Non Violence

Author(s): Kanhaiyalal Lodha, Dalpatsingh Baya
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 19

gilāņam padiyarai se mam padivajjai | Je mam padivajjai se gilāņam padivajjai l”
- Āvaśyakasūtra, Haribhadra's commentary, 6. “Lord! Who is blessed, the one who serves the sick and the miserable or the one who serves you?”
“Gautama! The one who serves the sick and the miserable.” “Lord! Why do you say so?”
"Gautama! One, who serves the sick and the miserable, serves me and the one who serves me, serves the sick and the miserable. This is the essence of the Arihanta's teaching. Therefore, O’Gautama! I say that, one who serves the sick and the miserable serves me and one who serves me serves the sick and the miserable.”
Some of the misconceptions about Jainism need to be corrected so that its nobility and grandeur get highlighted. Jainism is a friendly, humane and compassionate philosophy and religion. Ahimsa or Nonviolence, its seminal contribution to the thought and conduct in the world, deserves to be brought-out in its complete and pristine form. The result is this book.
We are indebted to K.L. Lodha for this learned and authentic treatise on the real import of Non-violence or Ahimsa. It will undoubtedly stimulate a healthy understanding of the real meaning of Non-violence or Ahimsa in the Jaina tradition. More importantly it will be able to stem the dehumanization of Jaina tradition.
The learned Jaina scholar Dr. Sagarmal Jain has kindly contributed his erudite and detailed Preface for this book. We are highly obliged to him.
Dr. Dharmachand Jain has put in considerable effort in editing this work and we thank him, too. He has specially contributed a collection of quotes from the canonical works of both - Svetāmbara and Digambara, traditions, which are being given as an appendix at
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Positive Non-Violence