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Evamkhu nānino sāram, jam na himsai kiscana |
- Sūtrakrtānga, 1.14.10. That is, - The essence of being learned is that one might not kill or hurt any living being,
Nissāram pāsiya ņāņi | Uvavāyam cayanam ņaccā aṇannam cara māhane | Se ņa chaņe, na chaņāvae, chaṇantam ņāņujāņati || - Acārānga Cayanikā, Aph. 61.
That is. - O learned one! See and understand from the sapless conditions of life. O non-violent one! Know about the miserable nature of births and deaths and act with equanimity. For, one that acts with equanimity neither kills nor gets killed by others nor he approves of anyone else killing any creature.
Comments - Bhagvān Mahāvīra has depicted non-violent conduct as the essence of being learned, and has given the message that truly learned is one that does not indulge in any kind of violence. One can be violent only as long as one is ridden with delusion and ignorance. The light of knowledge brings him face to face with other creatures' consciousness and then one replaces violence with non-violence, friendship, compassion, and service and comforts the living beings rather than tormenting them.
Imassa ceva jīviyassa parivandaņa-māņaņa-pūyaņāe jātimarana-moyaņāya dukkhapadighātaheum se sayameva pudhavi sattham samārambhanti, annehim vā pudhavi-sattham samārambhāveti, anne vā pudhavisattham samā-rambhante samaņujāņati | Tam se ahitãe, tam se abohie ||
- Ācārānga Cayanikā, Aph. 6. That is, - For the sake of protecting this life or for gaining praise or respect or worship, or for gaining a good afterlife or for fear of death in the present life or for gaining liberation and eternal peace or for dispelling miseries someone kills a lot of earth bodied living beings or has them killed by others or approves of their being killed by someone else. However, for him that violent act becomes the cause of harm and for lack of enlightenment.
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Positive Non-Violence
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