Positive Non Violence

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

Page 41

be more valuable than that of a human being. Possibly, in the development of this sensitivity between lives, this question of life-values has remained ignored and, therefore, we could become sensitive to the lives of ants but remained aloof or even indifferent towards those of "the human beings. Today, we require turning the direction of this thought current and becoming more sensitive towards the humans as well. It is only then that our non-violence will become positive. The Importance of Positive Non-violence -
The importance of positive side of non-violence was realised from the ancient times only. From the ancient times to date leaving aside some exceptions almost all Jaina masters and preceptors have accepted the value and importance of positive non-violence. They have always accepted it among the essential activities to be practiced by the householders. Today, the population of Jainas in India may be merely one percent but the number of charitable and socially useful institutions run by them exceeds far beyond their representation on the demographic population figures. Today almost 30 percent of the charitable and public welfare organisations are run by the Jainas. The contributions of the Jainas in the relief activities following natural and man-made calamities are simply unforgettable, none can ignore them. Whenever the questions of saving not only human lives but also those of the animals have arisen, the Jaina community has always come to the forefront. Even today there are such silent public welfare workers in the Jaina community that donate their physical, mental and material resources freely for such noble causes. This has become possible only due to prompting and encouragement by their religious masters, preceptors and ascetics. The value and importance assigned to positive non-violence in the Jaina thought can be judged by the following quotations from the Praśnavyākaraḥ sūtra, which are being reproduced here for their clear indication: - “Esā sā bhagavai ahiṁsā jā sā bhīyāņam viva saraṇam,
Pakkhīņaṁ viva gamaṇam,
Tisiyāņam viva salilar, Khuhiyāņaṁ viva asaņań,
XXVIII
Positive Non-Violence