Positive Non Violence

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

Page 47

induced volition and, therefore, amounts to violence. At page 181 of his book “Tīrthankara Mahāvīra Aur Unka Sarvodaya Tīrtha' Dr. Hukamchand Bharilla writes, “Jaina philosophy says that a volition to kill is decidedly violence, but according to the absolute standpoint, a volition to save is also violence, because it is flawed by a volitional attachment and attachment in whatever form is violence.”
This assertion by Dr. Bharilla only shows his lack of depth of study of the Jaina philosophy in its entirety. It is sure to introduce and promote mercilessness and cruelty towards all living beings and, to say the least, it is likely to kill the teachings of merciful non-violence by Bhagvān Mahāvīra. The feeling of attachment remains in a person until he becomes totally detached (vītarāga). It keeps becoming more or less from time to time. There is no harm in having some attachment in trying to save some creature's life; actually it will take such merciful benefactor only from attachment towards detachment. If in some activity the feeling of attachment increases as compared to what it was earlier, it may be considered as deplorable but a reduction in the feeling of attachment cannot be viewed as such. If such an activity is considered as deplorable, the detachment, in which the feeling of attachment is completely reduced, itself will become deplorable. The feeling of protecting and saving other creatures is a generous feeling of friendship and affection in which strength of attachment towards the self gets reduce. Another thing is that it is not necessary to have a feeling of attachment or selfishness in trying to save other creatures. Others can be saved selflessly as well. While serving or attending to the members of one's family or near and dear ones there may be a feeling of attachment or selfishness but how can we say that there is attachment and selfishness in trying to save an unknown accident victim on the road?
It has been said that the Lord mercifully preached with a view to save the living beings of the universe. 12 To preach with a view to save, protect and deliver the worldly living beings by the Lord cannot be indicative of any feeling of attachment on His part. What attachment
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Positive Non-Violence