Religious Problem in India

Author(s): Annie Besant
Publisher: Theosophist Office Adyar

Page 62

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THE RELIGIOUS PROBLEM IN INDIA
a moment to what was said by a Jina, and would to God that all men would take it as a rule of life: “ The venerable One has declared .... As is my pair when I am knocked or struck with a stick, bow, fist, clod, or potsherd; or menaced, beaten, burned, tormented, or deprived of life ; and as I feel every pain and agony, from death down to the pulling out of a hair ; in the same way, be sure of this, all kinds of being's feel the same pain and agony, etc., as I, when living they are ill-treated in the same way. For this reason all sorts of living beings should not be beaten, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor deprived of life. I say the Arhats and Bhāgavāts of the past, present and future, all say thus, speak thuis, declare thus, explain thus; all sorts of living beings should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. This constant, permanent, eternal, true law has been taught by wise men who comprehend all things."*
If that were the rule for every one, how different would India be; 110 beaten and abused animal ; mo struggling, suffering creature ; and for my part, I can look almost with sympathy even on the Jaina exaggeration, that has a basis so noble, So compassionate; and I would that the feeling of love, though not the exaggeration, should rule in all hudian hearts of every faith to-day.
Then we have the strict rule that no intoxicating drug or drink may be touched ; nothing like bhang', opinm, alcohol; of course nothing of
* Uttaradhyayana, Bk. II, 1, 48,49.