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PROLEGOMENA TO PRAKRITICA et JAINICA
and intractable.” (S.R. Banerjee, Introducing Jainism, p. 66). Ahimsā in Buddhism
Just as Jaina literature is replete with ahimsā, so also the Buddhist literature which has also preached the doctrine of ahimsā. Though in almost all the Buddhist literature, ahimsā is preached, in the Suttanipāta as well as in the Dhammapada, kindness towards all beings (metta), non-violence (ahimsā) and many more ethical doctrines are found. Both the Buddhists and the Jains preached the doctrine of non-violence, but it was the Jains who emphasized the doctrine of ahimsā in a more rigorous way than the Buddhists. As a result of their vigorousness Jainism lays stress far more on asceticism and all manner of cult exercises than Buddhism. As non-violence in Buddhism is not a topic here today, I just casually have made a passing remark about the non-violence of Buddhism.
Ahimsā in the Hindu scriptures
Apart from the fact that lots of references to ahimsā are found in Vedic literature, particularly in the Rgveda and other Samhitās, most of the statements of Vedic ahimsā are generally prohitive, i.e., "do not kill”, “do not injure others”. Even in the midst of prohibitive statements, the Sukla Yajurveda says that we should see others with our friendly eyes :
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dste drmha mā mitrasya mā cakşuşā sarvāṇi
bhūtāni samiksantām / mitrasyāham cakşuşā sarvāṇi bhūtāni samikşe /
mitrasya cakşuşa samikşāmahe 11 (SYV. 36/18)
“Even though the body is emaciated, let me be firm. Let you show me all animals with the eyes of a friend. I also (want to) see all the animals with the eyes of my
